‘He Lived Loudly’: Hackensack to Rename Street for Legendary Coach & AD ‘Scooter’ Whiting
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, The legacy of one of Hackensack’s most beloved sports icons will be permanently etched into the city’s map.
Following an emotional City Council vote, a street directly overlooking Hackensack High School’s athletic complexes will be officially renamed in honor of Gordon “Scooter” Whiting, the revered former coach, teacher, and athletic director who passed away in May at the age of 58.
The decision brought a packed council chamber of family, friends, and generations of former students to their feet in applause, solidifying a lasting tribute to a man who dedicated his life to North Jersey youth.
The Map Update: Introducing Gordon ‘Scooter’ Whiting Way
On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the Hackensack City Council voted unanimously to rename the intersection of Beech Street and Second Street as Gordon “Scooter” Whiting Way.
The location was chosen strategically and sentimentally: it looks directly over the Hackensack High School gymnasium and athletic fields—the exact grounds where Whiting spent decades mentoring, coaching, and inspiring countless students.
“This is a well-deserved honor for the Whiting family. Scooter was a thoughtful, caring man who deeply loved Hackensack. He believed in this city, he believed in its people, and he always believed our shared future could be better if we worked together toward it, as a community.” — Mayor Caseen Gaines
An official street dedication ceremony is scheduled for the fall of 2026, perfectly timed to coincide with the kickoff of the high school football season.
Once a Comet, Always a Comet: A Historic Athletics Career
Whiting was a lifelong Hackensack resident whose legendary status spans back to his own days as a student-athlete.
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The 1980s: Whiting was a powerhouse linebacker and defensive lineman for the Hackensack Comets, earning pristine All-State and All-League honors before graduating in 1986.
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The College Years: He earned a football scholarship to North Carolina State before transferring to Wagner College, where he helped secure the school’s 1987 Division III National Championship.
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The Coaching Legacy: He began his head coaching career at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood in 1994, returning to his hometown in 1997. He went on to helm both the basketball and football programs, later serving as a vital assistant to Benjie Wimberly from 2012 to 2020.
Whiting’s influence extended far beyond the field. He served the district as a passionate teacher, an assistant principal, and ultimately took over as the high school’s Athletic Director in 2021. Highlighting his selfless nature, he even volunteered to coach the girls’ flag football team without extra pay just to spend more time coaching his daughter, Camille.
Whiting’s sudden passing on May 15 came just two days after the Board of Education accepted his retirement.
Paying It Forward: The ‘Once a Comet’ Memorial Fund
Though Coach Whiting is gone, his mission to uplift the youth of Hackensack continues. His family recently established the Gordon “Scooter” Whiting “Once a Comet, Always a Comet” Memorial Fund.
On June 17, the fund awarded its very first scholarships to two graduating Hackensack student-athletes.
His wife, Dr. Joy Dorsey-Whiting—who serves as the principal of Hackensack Middle School—recalled how much the city meant to her husband, with whom she would have celebrated 25 years of marriage on June 30.
“My husband was a humble man. He was a man of few words, but he lived loudly. He lived for us as a family. He lived loudly for the children of Hackensack. He loved this city… Flowers die, but money can have a lasting impact and he was such a staunch believer in paying it forward.” — Dr. Joy Dorsey-Whiting
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Tags: Hackensack NJ, Bergen County Sports, High School Football, Commemorative Street Naming, Local Heroes, New Jersey Obituaries, High School Comets
