Pashuteh Yid,
I think it speaks volumes that the Yiddishe “pride” you found it most compelling to mention are Einstein, Aumann, the Marx brothers, and Dr. Seuss.
My partial list (off the top of my head) that would first come to mind in any list I would post would be the Chofetz Chaim, the Baal Shem, the Gaon, the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Moshe, Reb Ahron, Rashi, Rabbeinu Gershom, etc.
BTW what is your “secular background” that you speak of?