Mark Sceurman (Class of 1975)

Graphic artist who is co-creator and publisher of Weird NJ magazine, his fellow graduates voted him "most likely to spontaneously combust".[59][60]

What is Mark Sceurman (Class of 1975) known for?

Mark Sceurman, a Bloomfield, New Jersey native and 1975 graduate of Bloomfield High School, is best known for being a graphic artist and co-creator of Weird NJ magazine. The famous magazine began as a local newsletter in the early 1990s, featuring news items, historical anecdotes, and little-known legends and folk tales. After receiving a significant amount of interest, Sceurman developed the newsletter into a full-fledged magazine with his partner, Mark Moran.

Tales from towns across New Jersey were sent in by readers and Sceurman, alongside Moran, began investigating these tales at their source. Many strange stories turned out to be true or had an element of truth in them. This led to the eighth issue of the magazine where they made it their mission to investigate these stories more.

With the magazine's success, they were commissioned in 2003 to convert their findings into a book, "Weird NJ: Your Travel Guide to New Jersey's Local Legend and Best Kept Secrets". The publication sparked nationwide interest, leading to the creation of the "Weird U.S." series of books that capture strange and remarkable stories from across the United States.

Sceurman and Moran's publishing philosophy revolves around presenting local legends in an unaltered form, making no attempt to distinguish between truth and fiction. They aim to document these stories as part of the modern American culture. In addition to being an enticing read, the books also serve as a unique travel guide.

Over time, the pair transformed their humble newsletter into a thriving business, branching into a television series on the History Channel and a range of associated merchandise. Sceurman's lifelong residence in New Jersey, his historical interest, and his role as a past president of the Historical Society of Bloomfield has significantly influenced his work.

In his personal life, Mark Sceurman resides in Bloomfield with his wife Shirley and their son Alexander. His love for the bizarre was recognized early on - his high school classmates famously voted him "most likely to spontaneously combust".