List of people from Rochester, New York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rochester, New York in the United States, and its suburbs, is or has been home to many famous individuals. These people include businessmen, civil rights activists, politicians, entertainers, educators, athletes, and much more. Three prominent Rochesterians in the national consciousness are abolitionist Frederick Douglass, suffragist Susan B. Anthony, and inventor-philanthropist George Eastman.
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Like most cities, Rochester has its share of famous athletes. Among the biggest names are Walter Hagen in golf, Johnny Antonelli in baseball, Brian Gionta and Ryan Callahan in hockey, Abby Wambach in soccer, and Jon "Bones" Jones in mixed martial arts.
Rochester's history of innovation and progress is reflected in the long list of notable businessmen who founded their companies here. Eastman Kodak, Bausch + Lomb, Xerox, Gannett Company, and Western Union all trace their roots to Rochester.
Thanks in part to the Eastman School of Music, Rochester has an especially rich musical legacy, most notably as the birthplace of Cab Calloway and the hometown of jazz great Chuck Mangione. Lou Gramm of Foreigner is also a native, while Gene Cornish of The Rascals is a more recent transplant. Jeff Tyzik is one of the great jazz arrangers and pops conductors. Acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming grew up in nearby Churchville. A number of nationally known musicians have passed through the halls of the Eastman School, either as students or professors (or both).
Lou Gramm, lead singer of Foreigner, and Gene Cornish of The Rascals might be the best-known pop musicians from Rochester. Gary Lewis (of Gary Lewis and the Playboys) came to the area late in life but now calls it home. Notable bands whose members are largely or entirely Rochesterians include Gym Class Heroes, Joywave, Rustix, SNMNMNM, and The Sunstreak. In 2024, RXK Nephew was recognized by Pitchfork for his song "American Tterroristt" (2020), which ranked #2 on the list of "The Hundred Best Songs of the 2020s So Far".[93]
Military personnel best known as astronauts are listed below under "Scientists".
Metalwork sculptor Albert Paley, although originally from Philadelphia, has lived and worked in Rochester for over four decades; he's probably the region's most prominent artist. Like many other artists, he came to Rochester because of RIT's School for American Crafts.
Pioneering physician Elizabeth Blackwell, pioneering astronaut Pamela Melroy, and naturalist Henry Augustus Ward are the most notable scientists to come from the Rochester area. Acclaimed surgeon Seymour I. Schwartz also made Rochester his home.
No list of notable Rochesterians could ever omit Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, but the area has a long history of progressive social reformers. Anarchist Emma Goldman lived there for a time.
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