Rochester, New York in the United States, and its suburbs, is or has been home to many famous individuals. They include businessmen, civil rights activists, politicians, entertainers, educators, and athletes. Prominent Rochesterians in the national consciousness include abolitionist Frederick Douglass, suffragist Susan B. Anthony, and inventor-philanthropist George Eastman.
Academics Martin Brewer Anderson, first president of University of Rochester Richard N. Aslin, developmental psychologist at the University of Rochester Dave Bayer (b. 1955), mathematician at Barnard College, Columbia University Boris Bittker, legal academic Catherine Crary (1909–1974), historian of the American Revolution Harry Gideonse (1901–1985), president of Brooklyn College, and chancellor of the New School for Social Research Willie Gilchrist, chancellor of Elizabeth City State University Hilda Conrady Kingslake, optics engineer Rudolf Kingslake, optics engineer Sylvy Kornberg (1917–1986), biochemist who discovered and characterized polyphosphate kinase Joy Ladin, professor, poet, and theologian Edgar Lane (1923–1964), professor of political science Michael A. Marletta, biochemist, MacArthur Fellow, former CEO of Scripps Research Institute E. C. Mills, educator H. Allen Orr, evolutionary biologist, winner of the Darwin-Wallace Medal Robert Putnam, Harvard professor Richard W. Rahn, economist Kenneth Rogoff, Harvard professor Joel Seligman, former president of the University of Rochester Eugene H. Spafford, Purdue University professor Ching W. Tang, 2011 recipient of the Wolf Prize in Chemistry Carroll L. Wilson, MIT professor and first General Manager of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, recipient of the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement Robert E. Wright, Nef Family Chair of Political Economy, Augustana College, South Dakota
Architects and designers Thomas Wilson Boyde Jr., architect Claude Fayette Bragdon, architect Harvey Ellis, architect Robert Trent Jones, golf course architect Ramón Santiago, artist Fletcher Steele, landscape designer Clarence Stein, urban planner, architect and writer who advocated for the Garden City Movement John Rochester Thomas, architect Andrew Jackson Warner, architect J. Foster Warner, architect
Athletes 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 Ross Barnes, hit the first recorded home run in professional baseball Bernie Boland Chris Bostick, Indianapolis Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates Ernie Clement, Utility player for the Cleveland Guardians and Toronto Blue Jays Cito Culver, 2010 first-round draft pick Heinie Groh, MLB Mike Jones, MLB Bob Keegan, MLB Michael King, pitcher for the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres Danny Mendick, infielder for the Chicago White Sox Andy Parrino, MLB Charley Radbourn, MLB Tim Redding, MLB George Selkirk, MLB
Basketball Joe Arlauckas Joe Binion Thomas Bryant, NBA Al Butler, NBA Marty Byrnes, NBA Emma Cannon, WNBA Al Cervi, NBA player and coach Les Harrison, NBA player and coach Mark Jones, NBA Anthony Lamb, NBA Jack Leasure Art Long, NBA Mauro Panaggio Ryan Pettinella Robert Rose, NBA and NBL (Australia) player; won the NBL MVP award (1993, 2001), NBL champion 1992 Isaiah Stewart, NBA Jeff Van Gundy, NBA coach Stan Van Gundy, NBA coach Bernie Voorheis, NBL John Wallace, NBA Nate Williams, NBA
Combat sports Carmen Basilio, champion boxer Yianni Diakomihalis, folkstyle and freestyle wrestler, four-time NCAA wrestling champion at Cornell, 2022 World silver medalist Gregor Gillespie, lightweight fighter in the UFC, also known as "The Gift" Desmond Green, featherweight fighter in UFC Jon "Bones" Jones, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Willie Monroe, Jr., middleweight boxer Charles "The Natural" Murray, light welterweight boxer Hanna Thompson, fencer, 2008 Olympic silver medalist (team foil) Frank Trigg, welterweight fighter in the UFC Bobby Weaver, freestyle wrestler, 1984 Olympic gold medalist Felicia Zimmerman, fencer, 1996 and 2000 Olympics Iris Zimmerman, fencer, 2000 Olympics
Professional wrestling Johnny Barend Dalton Castle Colin Delaney, WWE Jonathan Huber, ring names Luke Harper and Brodie Lee Joanie "Chyna" Laurer Gorilla Monsoon The Roadblock
Football Branden Albert, NFL Joe Bachmaier, NFL Kevin Concepcion, Kevin Concepcion Cris Crissy, NFL Don Davey, NFL Greg Dortch, NFL Quentin Gause, NFL Tony Green, NFL Don Holleder, West Point football star and Vietnam War hero Ernest Jackson, CFL T. J. Jackson, NFL Arthur Jones, NFL Chandler Jones, NFL Tony Jordan, NFL Jim Kane, NFL Pat Kelly, NFL Rob Konrad, NFL Brian Kozlowski, NFL Leo Lyons, founder of the NFL's Rochester Jeffersons Kevin McMahan, NFL Seth Payne, NFL (Victor) Adam Podlesh, NFL Ryan Poles, NFL A. J. Terrell, NFL Robert R. Thomas, chief justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois and former NFL player David Walker, NCAA coach Roland Williams, NFL Marcus Wilson, NFL Alan Zemaitis, NFL
Golf Don Allen, championship amateur golfer Terry Diehl, PGA Tour Danielle Downey, LPGA player Walter Hagen, PGA legend Calvin Peete, African-American PGA Tour pioneer Jeff Sluman, PGA Tour and Champions Tour Sam Urzetta, 1950 U.S. Amateur Champion and professional golfer
Hockey Scott Bartlett, ECHL Mike Battaglia, ECHL Jason Bonsignore, NHL Ryan Callahan, NHL Adam Clendening, NHL Chris Collins, AHL Dan Conway, floor hockey professional, retired David Farrance, NHL Rory Fitzpatrick, NHL Brian Gionta, NHL Stephen Gionta, NHL Kim Insalaco, Olympic medalist Connor Knapp, NHL Matt Lane Phil Lane, AHL, EURO Shane Prince, NHL Marty Reasoner, NHL David Shields, AHL Francis Spain, 1936 Winter Olympic bronze medalist Lyndsay Wall, Olympic medalist Derek Whitmore, NHL Haley Winn, PWHL
Lacrosse Paul Cantabene Grant Catalino, MLL Dan Conway, Greece Athena HS, retired Pat Cougevan, NLL Sean Doyle, MLL Shawn Nadelen, NLL and MLL Brett Queener, NLL and MLL Chris Schiller, NLL and MLL Tim Soudan Joe Walters, NLL and MLL
Soccer Jordan Allen, midfielder Brian Bliss, defender and coach Mike Britton, defender/midfielder and coach Dema Kovalenko, midfielder Kathryn Nesbitt, assistant referee Angelo Panzetta, defender and coach Mike Reidy, midfielder/forward Dave Sarachan, forward and coach Lydia Vandenbergh, midfielder
Swimming and diving
Kara Lynn Joyce, Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte, 11-time Olympic medalist Richard Saeger, 1984 Olympic gold medalist Vincent Ward, Paralympic medalist Wendy Wyland, 1984 Olympic medalist, diving
Other athletes Kim Batten, track and field, 1996 Olympic silver medalist in triple jump Dick Buerkle, athlete, former world-record holder, indoor mile Paige Conners, Olympic ice dancer for Israel William Cox, athlete, 1924 Olympic medalist Irving Crane, billiards, six-time world champion, Billiard Congress of America Hall of Famer Louis Fox, 1865 national billiards champion Doug Kent, professional bowler, 2006–07 PBA Player of the Year A.J. Kitt, downhill skier, 1988–98 Olympics Jason McElwain, basketball personality Danny Padilla, bodybuilder, "The Giant Killer" Stacey Pensgen, figure skater and meteorologist Pete Pfitzinger, marathoner, 1984 and 1988 U.S. Olympics Frank Ritter Shumway, figure skater Mike Sigel, billiards, Billiard Congress of America Hall of Famer Jenn Suhr (née Stuczynski), 2012 Olympic gold medalist, pole vault Maynard Troyer, NASCAR Cathy Turner, Olympic gold medalist, short-track speed skating Jason Turner, 2008 Olympic medalist, air pistol Elsa von Blumen (Caroline Roosevelt), early endurance cyclist
Coaches Joe Altobelli, baseball manager Richard Callaghan, figure skater and coach Dave Sarachan, soccer player and coach Megan Shoniker, college basketball coach
Officials Nick Bremigan, MLB umpire Maia Chaka, first black woman hired as NFL official Jimmy Debell, NFL official Ken Kaiser, MLB baseball umpire Bill Klem, umpire in Baseball Hall of Fame; umpired in a record 18 World Series Silk O'Loughlin, MLB baseball umpire
Executives See #Sports executives, below
Broadcasters See #Sport broadcasters, below
Businessmen 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 executive Thomas B. Dunn, founder of perfume manufacturer T.B. Dunn, and inventor of Sen-Sen breath candy George Eastman, Eastman Kodak founder Charles J. Folger, lawyer, jurist and statesman Frank Gannett, founder of Gannett newspapers; presidential candidate Malcolm Glazer, CEO of First Allied; owner of Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United Kate Gleason, first female mechanical engineer Tom Golisano, Paychex founder, philanthropist, gubernatorial candidate; owner of NHL's Buffalo Sabres (2003–2010) Martha Matilda Harper, hair care entrepreneur Leonard Jerome, financier, "King of Wall Street"; grandfather of Sir Winston Churchill David T. Kearns, Xerox CEO and Deputy Secretary of Education Henry Lomb, co-founder of Bausch & Lomb Ralph Peo, inventor, founder of Frontier Industries, CEO and chairman of Houdaille Industries Arthur Rock, venture capitalist James Satloff, founder of Liberty Skis Hiram Sibley, Western Union co-founder Henry A. Strong, Eastman Kodak co-founder and president Hulbert Harrington Warner, patent medicine sales Don Alonzo Watson, Western Union co-founder Robert Wegman, Wegmans Food Markets Henry Wells, founder of American Express and co-founder of Wells Fargo Joseph C. Wilson, founder of Xerox Corporation Luke Wood, president of Beats Electronics
Computing and Internet Eric Bauman, founder of eBaum's World Paul Buchheit, creator of Gmail and AdSense; founder of FriendFeed Burnie Burns, co-founder of Rooster Teeth, an online video production company Diane Greene, founder of VMware
Inventors William Seward Burroughs I Matthew Ewing, carpenter and inventor Marcian E. Hoff, Jr., inventor of the microprocessor James Caleb Jackson, Granula Daniel Myron LeFever, gun maker and inventor of the hammerless shotgun C. J. Rapp, Jolt Cola John Samuel Rowell, agricultural inventor and manufacturing industrialist Steve Sasson, demonstrated first digital electronic camera George B. Selden, automotive pioneer S. Donald Stookey, inventor of CorningWare
Sports executives Steve Donner, hockey Bryan Glazer, part owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United F.C. Kim Pegula, co-owner and president, Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Bandits, Rochester Americans Morrie Silver, minor-league baseball
Criminals (suspected or convicted) The Alphabet Killer, cold case Kenneth Bianchi, one of the Hillside Stranglers Angelo Buono, Jr., one of the Hillside Stranglers
Joseph Naso, serial killer Arthur Shawcross, serial killer Francis Tumblety, one of the Jack the Ripper suspects
Entertainers
Actors and models Tyson Beckford, fashion model and television personality John Bolton, actor, A Christmas Story: The Musical Pandora Boxx, drag queen, Rupaul's Drag Race Season 2, All Stars 1, All Stars 6 Peter Breck, actor, The Big Valley Western series, Thunder Road movie, guest starred in many TV shows and acted in theater productions Louise Brooks, actress of 1920s and 30s, essayist of the 1960s and 70s