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 .
This article
needs additional citations for verification .
(May 2014 )
Downtown Rochester
Martin Brewer Anderson , first president of University of Rochester Richard N. Aslin , developmental psychologist at the University of RochesterDave Bayer (b. 1955), mathematician at Barnard College , Columbia University Boris Bittker , legal academicCatherine Crary (1909–1974), historian of the American RevolutionHarry Gideonse (1901–1985), president of Brooklyn College , and chancellor of the New School for Social Research Hilda Conrady Kingslake , optics engineerRudolf Kingslake , optics engineerSylvy Kornberg (1917–1986), biochemist who discovered and characterized polyphosphate kinaseJoy Ladin , professor, poet, and theologian[1] Edgar Lane (1923–1964), American professor of political scienceMichael A. Marletta , biochemist, MacArthur Fellow, former CEO of Scripps Research InstituteE. C. Mills , educatorH. Allen Orr , evolutionary biologist, winner of the Darwin-Wallace MedalRobert Putnam , Harvard professorRichard W. Rahn , economistKenneth Rogoff , Harvard professorJoel Seligman , former president of the University of RochesterEugene H. Spafford , Purdue University professorChing W. Tang , 2011 recipient of the Wolf Prize in ChemistryRobert E. Wright , Nef Family Chair of Political Economy, Augustana College , South Dakota
Claude Fayette Bragdon , architectHarvey Ellis , architectRobert Trent Jones , golf course architectRamón Santiago , artistFletcher Steele , landscape designerClarence Stein , urban planner, architect and writer who advocated for the Garden City Movement John Rochester Thomas , architectAndrew Jackson Warner , architectJ. Foster Warner , architect
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.
Baseball
Johnny Antonelli , MLB[2] Ross Barnes , hit the first recorded home run in professional baseball[3] Bernie Boland [4] Chris Bostick , Indianapolis Indians, Pittsburgh PiratesErnie Clement , Utility player for the Cleveland Guardians and Toronto Blue Jays [5] Cito Culver , 2010 first-round draft pick[6] Heinie Groh , MLB[7] Mike Jones , MLBBob Keegan , MLB[8] Michael King , pitcher for the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres [9] Danny Mendick , infielder for the Chicago White Sox [10] Andy Parrino , MLB[11] Charley Radbourn , MLB[12] Tim Redding , MLB[13] George Selkirk , MLB[14] Basketball
Joe Arlauckas [15] Joe Binion Thomas Bryant , NBA[16] Al Butler , NBA[17] Marty Byrnes , NBAEmma Cannon , WNBAAl Cervi , NBA player and coach[18] Dyaisha Fair , WNBALes Harrison , NBA player and coach[19] Mark Jones , NBA[20] Anthony Lamb , NBAJack Leasure [21] Art Long , NBA[22] Mauro Panaggio Ryan Pettinella [23] Robert Rose , NBA and NBL (Australia) player; won the NBL MVP award (1993, 2001), NBL champion 1992Isaiah Stewart , NBAJeff Van Gundy , NBA coachStan Van Gundy , NBA coachBernie Voorheis , NBL[24] John Wallace , NBA[25] Combat sports
Carmen Basilio , champion boxerYianni Diakomihalis , folkstyle and freestyle wrestler, four-time NCAA wrestling champion at Cornell , 2022 World silver medalistGregor Gillespie , lightweight fighter in the UFC, also known as "The Gift"Desmond Green , featherweight fighter in UFCJon "Bones" Jones , former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, current UFC Heavyweight ChampionWillie Monroe, Jr. , middleweight boxerCharles "The Natural" Murray , light welterweight boxerHanna Thompson , fencer, 2008 Olympic silver medalist (team foil)Frank Trigg , welterweight fighter in the UFCBobby Weaver , freestyle wrestler, 1984 Olympic gold medalistFelicia Zimmerman , fencer, 1996 and 2000 OlympicsIris Zimmerman , fencer, 2000 Olympics
Branden Albert , NFL[32] Joe Bachmaier , NFLCris Crissy , NFL[33] Don Davey , NFL[34] Quentin Gause , NFLTony Green , NFLDon Holleder , West Point football star and Vietnam War heroErnest Jackson , CFL [35] T. J. Jackson , NFL[36] Arthur Jones , NFL[37] Chandler Jones , NFL[38] Tony Jordan , NFL[39] Jim Kane , NFL[40] Pat Kelly , NFL[41] Rob Konrad , NFL[42] Brian Kozlowski , NFL[43] Leo Lyons , founder of the NFL's Rochester Jeffersons [44] Kevin McMahan , NFL[45] Seth Payne , NFL (Victor)[46] Adam Podlesh , NFL[47] Ryan Poles , NFL[48] A. J. Terrell , NFLRobert R. Thomas , Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois and former NFL player[49] David Walker , NCAA coach[50] Roland Williams , NFL[51] Marcus Wilson , NFL[52] Alan Zemaitis , NFL[53] Hockey
Dan Conway , floor hockey professional-retiredScott Bartlett , ECHL[57] Mike Battaglia , ECHL[58] Jason Bonsignore , NHL[59] Ryan Callahan , NHL[60] Adam Clendening , NHL[61] Chris Collins , AHL[62] David Farrance , NHLRory Fitzpatrick , NHL[63] Brian Gionta , NHL[64] Stephen Gionta , NHL[65] Kim Insalaco , Olympic medalist[66] Connor Knapp , NHL[67] Matt Lane [68] Phil Lane , AHL, EUROShane Prince , NHL[69] Marty Reasoner , NHL[70] David Shields , AHL[71] Francis Spain , 1936 Winter Olympic bronze medalist[72] Lyndsay Wall , Olympic medalist[73] Derek Whitmore , NHL[74] Soccer
Jordan Allen , MLSBrian Bliss , MLS[84] Josh Bolton , USLDema Kovalenko , MLS[85] Daniel Lynd , USLAngelo Panzetta , retired professional soccer player[86] Mike Reidy , USLDave Sarachan , NASL, Team USALydia Vandenbergh , WPS[87] Abby Wambach , two-time Olympic gold medalist, Women's World Cup Champion, all-time highest scoring international player[88] Other athletes
Kim Batten , track and field, 1996 Olympic silver medalist in triple jumpDick Buerkle , athlete, former world-record holder, indoor milePaige Conners , Olympic ice dancer for IsraelWilliam Cox , athlete, 1924 Olympic medalistIrving Crane , billiards, six-time world champion, Billiard Congress of America Hall of FamerLouis Fox , 1865 national billiards championDoug Kent , professional bowler, 2006–07 PBA Player of the YearA.J. Kitt , downhill skier, 1988–98 OlympicsJason McElwain , basketball personalityDanny Padilla , bodybuilder, "The Giant Killer"Stacey Pensgen , figure skater and meteorologistPete Pfitzinger , marathoner, 1984 and 1988 U.S. OlympicsFrank Ritter Shumway , figure skaterMike Sigel , billiards, Billiard Congress of America Hall of FamerJenn Suhr (née Stuczynski), 2012 Olympic gold medalist, pole vaultMaynard Troyer , NASCARCathy Turner , Olympic gold medalist, short-track speed skatingJason Turner , 2008 Olympic medalist, air pistolElsa von Blumen (Caroline Roosevelt), early endurance cyclist
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.
Charles August , co-founder of Monro Muffler Brake John Jacob Bausch , co-founder of Bausch & Lomb Thasunda Duckett , CEO of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America and former JPMorgan Chase executiveThomas B. Dunn , founder of perfume manufacturer T.B. Dunn, and inventor of Sen-Sen breath candyGeorge Eastman , Eastman Kodak founderCharles J. Folger , lawyer, jurist and statesmanFrank Gannett , founder of Gannett newspapers; presidential candidateMalcolm Glazer , CEO of First Allied; owner of Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United Kate Gleason , first female mechanical engineerTom Golisano , Paychex founder, philanthropist, gubernatorial candidate; owner of NHL's Buffalo Sabres (2003–2010)Martha Matilda Harper , hair care entrepreneurLeonard Jerome , financier, "King of Wall Street"; grandfather of Sir Winston Churchill David T. Kearns , Xerox CEO and Deputy Secretary of EducationHenry Lomb , co-founder of Bausch & LombRalph Peo , inventor, founder of Frontier Industries, CEO and chairman of Houdaille IndustriesArthur Rock , venture capitalistJames Satloff , founder of Liberty Skis Hiram Sibley , Western Union co-founderHenry A. Strong , Eastman Kodak co-founder and presidentHulbert Harrington Warner , patent medicine salesDon Alonzo Watson , Western Union co-founderRobert Wegman , Wegmans Food MarketsHenry Wells , founder of American Express and co-founder of Wells Fargo Joseph C. Wilson , founder of Xerox Corporation Luke Wood , president of Beats Electronics Inventors
William Seward Burroughs I Marcian E. Hoff, Jr. , inventor of the microprocessorMatthew Ewing , carpenter and inventorJames Caleb Jackson , GranulaDaniel Myron LeFever , gun maker and inventor of the hammerless shotgunC. J. Rapp , Jolt ColaJohn Samuel Rowell , agricultural inventor and manufacturing industrialistSteve Sasson , demonstrated first digital electronic cameraGeorge B. Selden , automotive pioneerS. Donald Stookey , inventor of CorningWare
Actors and models
Tyson Beckford , fashion model and television personalityJohn Bolton , actor, A Christmas Story: The Musical Pandora Boxx , drag queen, Rupauls Drag Race Season 2, All Stars 1, All Stars 6Peter Breck , actor, The Big Valley Western series, Thunder Road movie, guest starred in many TV shows and acted in theater productionsLouise Brooks , actress of 1920s and 30sBurnie Burns , voice actor, Red Vs. Blue Rooster Teeth Donna Lynne Champlin , Broadway actressJulie Lynn Cialini , Playboy modelJordan Clarke , actor, Guiding Light Jennifer Cody , dancer and actressMrs. Kasha Davis , drag queen, Rupauls Drag Race season 7Taye Diggs , actor, Rent Private Practice Pete Duel , actor, Alias Smith and Jones Winston Duke , actor, Black Panther Marilyn Erskine , actressDan Finnerty , singer and actorNicole Fiscella , actress, Gossip Girl Robert Forster , Oscar-nominated actor, Jackie Brown Susan Gibney , actress, Crossing Jordan Rachel Hilbert , model, Victoria's Secret Che Holloway , actor, Dark Justice Philip Seymour Hoffman , Oscar-winning actorTom Keene , western actorMimi Kennedy , actress and activistNorman Kerry , silent film actorDarienne Lake , drag queen, Rupauls Drag Race season 6Hudson Leick , actress, Xena: Warrior Princess Kara Lindsay , actress, Newsies John Lithgow , Oscar, Tony and Emmy-nominated actorRick Lyon , Broadway puppeteer and puppet designerVincent Martella , actor, Everybody Hates Chris Phineas and Ferb Timothy Mitchum , actor, The Lion King Audrey Munson , early 20th-century modelPaul Napier , television and commercial actor, SAG leaderHugh O'Brian , actor, films and Wyatt Earp Michael Park , actor, As the World Turns Chris Perfetti , actor, Abbott Elementary Richard Ryder , actor, Forever Young Keesha Sharp , actress, directorBrennan Swain , contestant, The Amazing Race Joy Tanner , actressTom Villard , actor, We Got it Made Gloria Votsis , actressJimmy Wallington , actor and radio personalityKristen Wiig , comedian and actress, Saturday Night Live Dancers and choreographers
Musicians
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).
Classical music
David Diamond , composerRenée Fleming , sopranoAdolphus Hailstork , composerHoward Hanson , composer and conductorDavid Hochstein , virtuoso violinistClaire Huangci , pianistDaniel Katzen Gregory Kunde , tenorWard Stare , conductor and trombonistJeff Tyzik , conductor and jazz trumpeterWilliam Warfield , bass-baritoneAlec Wilder , composerZvi Zeitlin , violinist and teacherCab Calloway , bandleaderChet Catallo , guitarist, Spyro Gyra, Chet Catallo and the Cats,Hank D'Amico , clarinetistJT Bowen , R&B singerSteve Gadd , drummerMichael Hashim , saxophonistSon House , bluesmanVijay Iyer , jazz pianistNancy Kelly , jazz singerChuck Mangione , smooth jazz flugelhornistGap Mangione , bandleaderRoy McCurdy , drummerMitch Miller , bandleaderJohn Mooney , BluesianaFamoudou Don Moye , drummer, Art Ensemble of ChicagoGerry Niewood , saxophonistJoe Romano , jazz saxophonistFrank Strazzeri , jazz pianistJohn Viavattine , Mambo KingsPopular music
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]
Steve Alaimo , teen idol pop singer, hosted and co-produced Dick Clark 's Where the Action Is [94] Gene Cornish , The RascalsBrann Dailor , MastodonSteve Decker , Gym Class HeroesJoe English , drummer for Wings and Sea LevelTeddy Geiger Kim Gordon , Sonic YouthLou Gramm , ForeignerDJ Green Lantern , rapperRXK Nephew , rapperMick Guzauski , mixerDavey Havok , AFI and Blaqk AudioDuke Jupiter Bill Kelliher , MastodonGary Lewis , Gary Lewis and the PlayboysDisashi Lumumba-Kasongo , Gym Class Heroes (From nearby Ithaca, NY)Lydia Lunch Travis McCoy , Gym Class Heroes (From nearby Geneva, NY)Matt McGinley , Gym Class Heroes (From nearby Geneva, NY)Bob Nastanovich , PavementMike Piano , The SandpipersDon Potter Bobby Orlando , producerEmilio Rojas , rapperJacob Stanczak , better known as Kill the Noise, Disk Jockey and producerPeter Shukoff ("NicePeter")Joyce Sims William Tell , Something CorporateTweet , born Charlene KeysVirus , aka Andre Karkos, Device, Big & Rich, Dope, Lords of AcidLeehom Wang , C-popWendy O. Williams , PlasmaticsTim Yeung , Divine Heresy, Morbid AngelOthers
Rick Beato , musician, music educator, YouTuberRobert Bernhardt , symphony conductorThe Campbell Brothers , instrumental gospel quartetThomas Keene , folk singer/Bloomberg radio hostChristine Lavin , folk singer/songwriterJulia Nunes , folk ukelelist and singer/songwriterLauren O'Connell , folk singer/songwriterLesley Riddle , 'human tape recorder' during A.P. Carter's song collecting excursionsOther
Raul daSilva , author, filmmakerThérèse DePrez , production designerAndrea Nix Fine , Oscar-winning documentary producer, Inocente Jason Hawes , founder of the Atlantic Paranormal Society and Sci Fi Channel series Ghost Hunters Jenna Mourey , YouTube personality, screen name "Jenna Marbles"James Sibley Watson , grandson of Western Union founders Hiram Sibley and Don Alonzo Watson; doctor and filmmakerAndrew Rea , creator/host of popular YouTube cooking series "Binging with Babish"
Politicians and leaders
Parmenio Adams , U.S. Representative[95] Nathaniel Allen , U.S. Representative[96] Fernando C. Beaman , U.S. Representative[97] Charles Billinghurst , U.S. Representative from Wisconsin[98] Harmon P. Burroughs , Illinois state representative[99] Angus Cameron , U.S. Senator from Wisconsin[100] Sanford E. Church , Lieutenant Governor of New York, New York State Comptroller, and Chief Judge of New York State Court of Appeals[101] Edward Colman , Wisconsin state senator[102] Cornplanter , leader of the Seneca[103] Robert Duffy , former Rochester Police Chief, Rochester's 65th Mayor, and NYS Lieutenant Governor, President and CEO of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce;Marion B. Folsom , Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare[104] John Rankin Gamble , U.S. Representative from South Dakota[105] John W. Gunning , Wisconsin State Assemblyman[106] Leopold Hammel , Wisconsin State Assemblyman[107] Elizur K. Hart , U.S. Representative and founder of Rochester Post-Express newspaper[108] David J. Hayes , Deputy Secretary of the Interior[109] Charles H. Holmes , U.S. Representative[110] Kenneth Keating , U.S. Representative, senator, and ambassador to Israel[111] Robert L. King , state assemblyman, county executive, and chancellor of the State University of New York[112] Brian Kolb , Minority Leader of the New York State Assembly[113] Charles H. Nesbitt , assemblyman and assembly minority leader[114] Bill Nojay , assemblyman, public authority leader, and radio talk show hostWilliam F. Quinn , Governor of Hawaii[115] John Raines , state senator[116] Adolph J. Rodenbeck , mayor of Rochester, New York State Assemblyman, Court of Claims Judge, and New York Supreme Court JusticeEliakim Sherrill , politician and brigade commander in Union Army during Civil War[117] Louise Slaughter , U.S. Representative, chairperson of House Rules Committee[118] Ellicott R. Stillman , Wisconsin State Assemblyman[119] Thomas Benton Stoddard , first mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and state assemblyman[120] James W. Symington , Chief of Protocol of the United States (1966–68) and U.S. Representative (1969–77)John Todd Trowbridge , Wisconsin territorial legislator and sea captain[121] Tom Warner , representative in Florida State Legislature[122] Military personnel
Military personnel best known as astronauts are listed below under "Scientists" .
Authors and writers
Isabella Macdonald Alden , authorJohn Ashbery , poetNatallia Arsiennieva , poetNicholson Baker , authorAndrea Barrett , short-story writerPhilip Barry , playwrightRichard Brookhiser , biographerMarcia Brown , Caldecott-winning authorRob Byrnes , writer, Lambda Literary Award winnerRon Carlivati , head writer of One Life to Live General Hospital Tom Chiarella , writer for Esquire Francis Pharcellus Church , publisher and editorHenry W. Clune , journalist and novelist[126] Sheila Connolly , mystery writerCornelius Eady , poetThomas Fenton , screenwriter, Saw IV Edith Willis Linn Forbes , poet and writerJoseph Fornieri , historian, political scientistDana Fox , screenwriter, The Wedding Date Geoffrey Giuliano , biographerVirginia Haviland , librarian and writerEdward D. Hoch , mystery writerMary Jane Holmes , 19th-century authorDavid Hudson , lawyer and writerMarie Howe , poet[127] Charles R. Jackson , author of The Lost Weekend Shirley Jackson , author, The Lottery David Cay Johnston , Pulitzer Prize winner, reporter for New York Times Ilya Kaminsky , Ukrainian-American poetGarson Kanin , playwright and screenwriterMollie Katzen , chef and cookbook authorStanton Davis Kirkham , naturalistMichael Muhammad Knight , novelistHelen Aldrich De Kroyft (1818–1915), authorSonja Livingston , authorJerre Mangione , writerMinerva Brace Norton , educator and authorLinda Sue Park , Newbery Medal winnerJane Marsh Parker , author, historian and clubwomanHerbie J Pilato , writerMarjorie Kinnan Rawlings , author, Pulitzer Prize winner for The Yearling David Oliver Relin , journalist and author, Three Cups of Tea Julia Sauer , librarian and authorDavid Schickler , author, Kissing in Manhattan and Sweet and Vicious Emma Augusta Sharkey , writerMark Shulman , children's authorJoe Simon , comic book writer, co-creator of Captain America Lura Eugenie Brown Smith (1864–?), journalist, newspaper editor, authorThomas Thackeray Swinburne (1865–1926), poetChris Van Etten , TV writer and authorAmelia Kempshall Wing (1837–1927), American author and philanthropistBroadcasters and journalists
Don Alhart , television journalistRalph Bown , radio pioneerRichard Ben Cramer , journalist and author, Pulitzer Prize winnerFrederick Douglass , editor of The North Star (anti-slavery newspaper) Jean Giambrone , journalist, first woman credentialed for Masters golfSean Lahman , sports statistician and newspaper journalistJohn Machacek , Pulitzer Prize winner (1972, spot reporting)Don Martin , Calgary Herald columnistAnne Montgomery , WROC sports reporter and ESPN broadcasterHenry Jarvis Raymond , journalist and founder of New York Times Neil Rogers , radio hostMartin Sargent , professional "nerd" and host of TWIF Steve Scully , C-SPAN host; reporter and anchor at WHEC-TV in RochesterJimmy Wallington , radio personalityIrv Weinstein , television journalistSport broadcasters
Mike Catalana , Rochester television executiveLanny Frattare , Pittsburgh PiratesHank Greenwald , San Francisco GiantsJosh Lewin , Los Angeles Chargers and Texas RangersClem McCarthy , sportscaster and newsreel narratorNick Nickson , Jr., Los Angeles KingsBill Stern , sportscaster in National Radio Hall of Fame Jeff Van Gundy , pro basketballPete Van Wieren , Atlanta BravesPhotographers and artists
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.
Alfred Agate , painterFrederick Styles Agate , painterHarry Bliss , cartoonistWendell Castle , wood furniture sculptorArthur Dove , abstract painterEmil Gruppe , impressionist painterNicholas Gurewitch , creator of The Perry Bible Fellowship Peter Hannan , creator of CatDog James D. Havens , woodcut artist; early insulin recipientMaud Humphrey , commercial illustrator, suffragist; mother of actor Humphrey Bogart Jeannette Klute , photographerMarilyn Leavitt-Imblum , needlework designerAlbert Paley , metalwork sculptorManuel Rivera-Ortiz , photographer
Reverend Francis Bellamy , wrote the Pledge of Allegiance
Antoinette Brown Blackwell , first female ministerJames Callan , former Catholic priestHiram Edson , pioneer of the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchKate, Leah, and Margaret Fox , spiritualistsPhilip Kapleau , brought Zen Buddhism to western mainstream 1964; founded Rochester Zen CenterMax Landsberg (1845–1927), rabbi of B'rith KodeshBishop Bernard John McQuaid
Carolyn Merchant , philosopher and historianFridolin Pascalar , pastor at St. Michael's Church (1874–1896)Walter Rauschenbusch , theologianAbraham Resnick , rabbi in Ashgabat, Kokand, Moscow, Quincy MA, Lowell MA and RochesterBenjamin Titus Roberts , founder, Free Methodist ChurchBishop Fulton Sheen , archbishop and television personality
Joseph Smith , founder of Latter Day Saint movement Paul J. Swain , Roman Catholic bishopReverend Dr. Howard Thurman
William C. White , Seventh-day Adventist minister
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.
James C. Adamson , astronautJohn Auer , physiologist and pharmacologist credited with the discovery of Auer rodsElizabeth Blackwell , first woman to become qualified as a medical doctorEsther M. Conwell , physicist, 1997 recipient of the IEEE Edison Medal Frank J. Duarte , laser physicist and authorGrove Karl Gilbert , geologistDavid Lipman , bioinformaticistEdward Tsang Lu , space shuttle astronaut, International Space Station residentPamela Melroy , astronautLewis Henry Morgan , anthropologistArthur Caswell Parker , archaeologist, historian, expert on Native Americans, and director of the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences John Wesley Powell , geologistMark Rosenzweig , research psychologistSeymour I. Schwartz , author of Schwartz's Principles of Surgery , the "Surgeon's Bible"Lewis A. Swift , astronomerChing W. Tang , chemist, physicist, inventor of OLED Henry Augustus Ward , naturalist and geologist, founder of Ward's Natural Science John Ralston Williams , medical pioneerHerbert York , nuclear physicist
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.
Terry A. Anderson , former hostage and humanitarianSusan B. Anthony , women's rights leaderWalter Cooper , research scientist, urban education reformer and civil rights activistFrederick Douglass , abolitionistLavantia Densmore Douglass (1827–1899), social reformerEmma Goldman , anarchistGeorge W. Goler , pioneer in pasteurisationShields Green , escaped slave who participated in John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry Jean Brooks Greenleaf (1832–1918), woman suffragistAntoinette Arnold Hawley , temperance activistHester C. Jeffrey , suffragistClarissa Caldwell Lathrop , asylum reform advocate and autobiographerHelen Barrett Montgomery , social reformer and women's activistHelen Pitts , abolitionist and feministAmy and Isaac Post , abolitionists and women's rights advocatesJoy Powell , social reformer, political prisoner and anti-violence activistMabel Sine Wadsworth , birth control activistLillian Wald , public health nurse and social workerSamuel Ringgold Ward , African-American pastor and abolitionistFrances Willard , suffragist and temperance reformerFannie Barrier Williams , black social reformer
Josh Arieh , 2005 World Series of Poker championTimothy Blodgett , Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. House of Representatives as of January 2021 [128] Mabel Boll , socialite, the "Queen of Diamonds"Douglas Brei , sports historianObadiah Bush , ancestor of the Bush financial and political familyElizabeth Eden , figure in the Dog Day Afternoon bank heistEd Edmondson , chess arbiterJon Finkel , Magic: The Gathering championJerome Fuller , juristMike Goodman , professional gambler, casino pit boss, and authorGideon Granger , U.S. Postmaster General under Thomas JeffersonSeth Green , pioneer in fish farmingMary Jemison , the White Lady of the GeneseeLincoln Kirstein , writer, ballet impresario, art connoisseur, and one of the Monuments Men Thomas Krens , former director, current senior adviser, at the Solomon R. Guggenheim MuseumIncrease A. Lapham , "father" of the United States Weather ServiceChristopher Lasch , historianBelva Ann Lockwood , first female attorney to practice before the Supreme CourtShawn Rabideau , event planner, TV personalityNathaniel Rochester , city founderBlanche Stuart Scott , first American woman aviatorJane Teller , sculptorRobert Van Leer , an American arts executive
"Joy Ladin" . Jewish Women's Archive . Retrieved 2022-07-18 ."Ross Barnes" . Pro-Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Cito Culver" . Pro-Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Heinie Groh" . Pro-Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Bob Keegan" . Pro-Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Andy Parrino" . Pro-Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Tim Redding" . Pro-Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Al Butler" . Pro-Basketball Reference. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Al Cervi" . Pro-Basketball Reference. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Mark Jones" . Pro-Basketball Reference. Retrieved 25 October 2014 ."Art Long" . Pro-Basketball Reference. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Cris Crissy" . Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Don Davey" . Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Ernest Jackson" . bclions.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014 .{{cite web }}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link )"Arthur Jones" . Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Tony Jordan" . Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved 14 April 2014 ."Jim Kane" . pro-football-reference.com . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 25 July 2014 ."Pat Kelly" . Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Rob Konrad" . Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Leo Lyons" . therochesterinsomniac.com/ . Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Seth Payne" . Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Adam Podlesh" . Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved 23 February 2014 ."Pat Cougevan" . Rochester Knighthawks Lacrosse. Retrieved 25 February 2014 ."Sean Doyle" . Bucknell University Athletics. Retrieved 25 February 2014 ."Tim Soudan" . rochesterrattlers.com. Retrieved 25 February 2014 ."Joe Walters" . Rochester Knighthawks. Retrieved 25 February 2014 ."Parmenio Adams" . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 27 February 2014 ."Nathaniel Allen" . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 27 February 2014 .'Official Directory of the Legislature of Illinois 1895,' J. L. Pickering-editor,' Springfield, Illinois: 1895, Biographical Sketch of Harmon P. Burroughs, p. 33-34
"Cornplanter" . nac.library.cornell.edu/ . Retrieved 28 February 2014 .'Wisconsin Blue Book 1889,' Biographical Sketch of John W. Gunning, pg. 501
'Wisconsin Blue Book 1887,' Biographical Sketch of Leopold Hammel, pg. 504-505
"Elizur K. Hart" . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 1 March 2014 ."Kenneth Keating" . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 1 March 2014 ."Eliakim Sherrill" . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 3 March 2014 ."Louise Slaughter" . Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 3 March 2014 .'Wisconsin Blue Book 1895,' Biographical Sketch of Ellicott R. Stillan, pg. 698
'The Trowbridge Genealogy: The History of the Trowbridge Family in America,' Francis Bacon Trowbridge, Tuttle, Morehouse and Taylor Company: 1908, Biographical Sketch of John Todd Trowbridge, pg. 80-81
'Donald Mark, former state Supreme Court justice, dies at 91,' The Rochester Democratic & Chronicle, Laura Peace, February 12, 2018
Poets, Academy of American. "Marie Howe" . Poets.org . Retrieved 2023-10-09 . 
