WHM - The Worcester Connection

George Bancroft (1800-1891), historian, Secretary of the Navy, founder of the Naval Academy, 1845. Author of the famous "History of the United States," 1834 to 1840. Born in Worcester.

S. N. Behrman (1893-1973), dramatist, drama critic, and author. His comedies include The Second Man (1927), Rain from Heaven (1934), No Time for Comedy (1939), Fanny (1954) with Joshua Logan, and Lord Pengo (1962). His books include an autobiography, The Worcester Account (1954), and a biography of Max Beerbohm (1960). Born in Worcester.

Robert Benchley (1889-1945), humorist, writer, actor, editor. He was first famous as a humorist for his improvisational oral monologues. One of his most famous sketches was known as The Treasurer's Report. His grandson, Peter Benchley was the author of Jaws (1974). Born in Worcester.

Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979), poet. Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress (the equivalent to what is now called the Poet Laureate) in 1949-50. In 1955, she received the Pulitzer Prize for Poems: North & South -- A Cold Spring. Her book of poems, Questions of Travel, won the National Book Award in 1965. A later book, Geography III, received the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1976. Born in Worcester.

Erastus Brigham Bigelow (1814-1879),Inventor, economist. Inventor of the power loom for carpet manufacture, 1855.

John Boynton (1791-1868), one of the founders of Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science founded Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), 1865.

Michael Bradley (1979-) NBA player.

David M. Clark (1903-1989), founder of David Clark Company with his father in 1935. During World War II the company produced flight suits, and developed and manufactured the famous "anti-G" suit, which prevents pilots from blacking out when pulling out of high-speed dives.

Bob Cousy (1928- ), NBA Boston Celtics (1950-63), six championships, and NBA Cincinnati Royals (1969-70). Inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame, 1971. Graduate of Holy Cross College (1946-50).

George Crompton (1829-1886), improved power looms, 1854.

Zara Cully (1892-1978), actress. Best known for role as Olivia 'Mother' Jefferson (1975-1978), on the TV series, "The Jeffersons." Born in Worcester.

Faithe Deffner, ( ), dynamic force in the accordion world. Served as president of the American Accordionists' Association in 1985-86 and 1995-2000. Born in Worcester.

General Charles Devens (1820-1891), orator, judge, Civil War hero.

Dorothea Lynde Dix (1802-1887), reformer of prisons and improved care of the mentally ill. Her work resulted in the expansion of the medical facilities in Worcester to accommodate the state's mentally ill, known today as Worcester State Hospital. This was the beginning of a nationwide change in the treatment and housing of the mentally ill.

Jack Donahue, ( ), cabaret/jazz singer. Born in Worcester.

Mary Fell (1947- ), poet. Her first book, The Persistence of Memory, was published in 1983 when it was selected for the National Poetry Series. Born in Worcester.

Father James Fitton (1805-1881), missionary, founder of Holy Cross College, 1840.

John Gould Fleming ( ) Pulp Magazine cover artist, illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post and for the General Electric Corporation. Born in Worcester.

Esther Forbes (1891-1967), novelist, biographer. She was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1943 for her biography of Paul Revere and the World He Lived In. This was immediately followed in 1944 by Johnny Tremain--a Newbery Medal winner and one of the most highly acclaimed books for young adults.

Harriette Merrifield Forbes (1856-1951), author and pioneering photographer, mother of Esther Forbes. Published the first significant study of American gravestones, Gravestones of Early New England, and the Men Who Made Them (1927). The annual award of the Association for Gravestone Studies is known as the "Harriette Merrifield Forbes Award."

Abby Kelley Foster (1811-1887), radical abolitionist and women's rights activist. Her home, known as Liberty Farm on Mower Street, was a station on the Underground Railroad.

Howard G. Freeman (1918- ), inventor of the waterfog nozzle and the fogfoam nozzle.

Samuel Fuller (1911-1997), writer, filmmaker, director, actor. A controversial figure in American cinema. Born in Worcester.

Maryanne Galvin ( ), documentary filmmaker, practicing forensic psychologist. Has produced four documentaries, including the most recent, The Pursuit of Pleasure. Born in Worcester.

Rich Gedman, (1959- ) former major league baseball catcher. Made his debut with the Boston Red Sox in 1980 and eventually helped lead the Red Sox the '86 World Series.

Georgia Gibbs (1920, born Fredda Gibbons), jazz singer. Built her career in the '50s by covering R&B hits of LaVern Baker and Etta James. Born in Worcester.

Robert Goddard , (1882-1945), "Father of Modern Rocketry" - invented the first liquid fueled rocket, fired in 1926, while a professor at Clark University.

Emma Goldman (1869-1940), radical, member of the Anarchist movement. Lived in Worcester in 1892.

Katie Grady ( ), comedian. A headliner in the Boston comedy scene, she's a regular at The Comedy Studio, Nick's Comedy Stop and Giggles Comedy Club. Born in Worcester.

KellyG ( ), (Kelly Graham), KellyG, a professional HIP HOP Dancer and Choreographer based in Los Angeles. Also has worked as a fitness model/dancer/actress and former cheerleading captain for the New England Patriots. Grew up in Worcester.

Andrew Haswell Green (1820-1903), attorney and civic leader. Prominent in civic affairs of New York City, he held a number of offices and was largely responsible for much of the park system. He is mainly remembered as chairman of the commission that in 1897 drew up the plan by which Greater New York was established in 1898. Born in Worcester.

Dr. John Green (1784-1865), donated 7,000 volumes to the Worcester Free Public Library, 1859.

G. Stanley Hall (1844-1924), psychologist, educator, author, founded and edited American Journal of Psychology, president of Clark University, 1846-1924.

Russell Hawes (1823-1867), inventor of the first practical envelope folding machine, 1853.

John Michael Hayes (1919- ), screenwriter, Oscar recipient (twice). Born in Worcester.

Tom Heinsohn (1934- ), NBA Boston Celtics (1956-65), eight championships. Coach of Celtics (1969-1978), two championships. Inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame, 1986. Graduate of Holy Cross College (1952-56).

Milton Higgins (1903-1997), began trade school movement in America, founded Boys Trade School in 1908, and one of the founders of Norton Company.

Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823-1911), abolitionist. Resided in Worcester in the 1850s as minister of the Free Church; described Worcester as a seething centre of all the reforms.

George Frisbie Hoar (1826-1904), U.S. senator.

Abbie Hoffman, (1937-1989), sixties radical. He was best known for his rejection and parody of American corporate culture. He coined the phrase "Never trust anyone over 30." Born and raised in Worcester.

Winthrop Jordan (1931- ), historian. Author. "White Over Black, American Attitudes Toward the Negro, 1550-1812," is an award-winning work on the history of American race relations. Born in Worcester.

Arthur Kennedy (1914-1990), actor. Appeared in over 60 films through the late 1980s and was an Oscar nominee (five times) and a Tony Award winneras Biff in "Death of a Salesman," 1948. Born in Worcester.

Grace Helen Kent (1875-1973, clinical psychologist. Inaugurated first Psychology department in state hospitals and worked as a psychologist at Worcester State Hospital (1922-26).

Stanley Kunitz (1905- ), poet, editor, essayist, translator. Was America's 10th poet laureate at the age of 95. Born in Worcester.

Denis Leary (1957-), comedian, actor. His film appearances include Wag the Dog, The Ref, True Crime, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Jesus' Son. Leary also lent his voice to A Bug's Life. Born in Worcester.

Levi Lincoln (1749-1820), statesman and lawyer. An original member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences; first President of Worcester Agricultural Society (1818-1820), served in President Jefferson's presidential Cabinet; Attorney General of the United States (1801-1804).

Levi Lincoln, Jr. (1782-1868), first mayor of Worcester; also served as Attorney General of the United States and Governor of Massachusetts.

John Lurie (1952- ), musician, character actor. Formed the "Lounge Lizards" band, 1978. Born in Worcester.

Connie Mack (Cornelius A. McGillicuddy) (1862-1956), famous baseball player and manger of the Philadelphia Athletics.

Milton Meltzer (1915- ), author. Two of his most well known books include Mark Twain Himself, and Starting From Home. He has also done work on various documentary films such as History of the American Negro and Five. Born in Worcester.

Eddie Mekka (1952, born Edward Mekjian)-got his start performing in musical theater as a teenager in Worcester. He is perhaps best known to television audiences for his role as "Carmine Ragusa," The Big Ragu on the Laverne & Shirley show.

Albert Abraham Michelson (1852-1931) First American to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics, 1907. Professor at Clark University, 1889-1892).

Charles Olson (1910-1970), poet. Was a crucial link between earlier figures like Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams and such later avant garde groups as the Beats and L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E was born in Worcester. He was also one of the coiners of the term postmodern.

Michael Orland ( ), American Idol, music director, pianist. Born in Worcester.

Frances Perkins (1880-1965), first woman Cabinet member in the United States government. Secretary of Labor, 1933-1945 in FDR's administration. Born in Boston, but raised in Worcester.

Tom Poti (1977-) NHL Player.

Olive Higgins Prouty (1882-1974), novelist. Of her ten novels, the best known are Stella Dallas (1923) and Now, Voyager (1941). Born in Worcester.

Ralph Raymond, ( ), of Worcester, coach of the USA Softball Women's National Team which one the first Olympic gold medal in the sport's history during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

J.P. Ricciardi, ( ), John Paul Ricciardi was born in Worcester and graduated from St. Peter-Marian High School in 1977. He coached basketball for Holy Name High School. In 1985 J.P. obtained his bachelor of arts in media communications from Worcester State College. J.P. played two seasons with the New York Mets, began his coaching career with the Yankees in 1982, and in 1985 joined the Milwaukee Brewers as a coach. In 1986 he joined the Oakland Athletics where he functioned in various capacities over the next 15 years. In 2001 J.P. became Senior VP of Baseball Operations and General Manager with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Eugenia Rosemberg (1919-2004), endocrinologist. Research she conducted in the 1960s at the Medical Research Institute at City Hospital in Worcester was a forerunner in unraveling infertility problems. Now, forty years later, various infertility treatments have become commonplace.

Albert Sacco (1949- ), engineer. While a professor and Head of the Chemical Engineering Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in 1995, he flew as a payload specialist aboard the space shuttle Columbia, which focused on materials science, biotechnology.

Stephen Salisbury III (1835-1905), founded the Worcester Art Museum in 1896 and donated land for Institute and Bancroft parks. Also donated land and money for the historical museum's first building at 39 Salisbury Street.

Matthew Scannell ( ), musician, band member of "Vertical Horizon," best known for their top-40 hit, "Everything You Want" (1999).

Paul A. Siple (1908-1968), Clark University graduate and famed meteorologist and Antarctic explorer. Coined the term wind chill factor, 1939.

Louis Sockalexis (1871-1913), a Penobscot Indian from Old Town, Maine, played collegiate baseball at Holy Cross. He was the first indigenous Major League baseball player, joining the Cleveland team in 1897. The Cleveland Indians baseball team, in it's official version of it's history, claims that the team was named in honor him.

Joshua C. Stoddard (1818-1902),inventor and manufacturer of calliopes at the American Steam Piano Company. Other inventions include a hay rake, a fruit-paring machine, and a fire escape system.

Tanyon Sturtze (1971-) Professional baseball player

Marshall "Major" Taylor, (1878-1932), world-class cyclist, the first black athlete to win an international competition. Considered one of the first African-American sports heroes; held seven world cycling records at the turn of the century, racing mostly in Europe, Australia and New Zealand after being barred from many events in the U.S. due to racial prejudices; won the world 1-mile championship in 1899.

Eli Thayer (1819-1899)of Worcester organized the Emigrant Aid Society, which sent hundreds of free-soil settlers to Kansas.

Ernest Thayer (1863-1940), author of Casey at the Bat, first printed in 1888. The famous poem was inspired by his schoolmate at Worcester's Classical high School Henry Casey.

Isaiah Thomas (1749-1831), patriot, editor, printer and newspaper publisher. Brought the Massachusetts Spy and printing press to Worcester in 1775. Founder of American Antiquarian Society, 1812.

Helen Walker (1920- 1968), actress. Appeared in 19 feature films. Born in Worcester.

Ichabod Washburn (1798-1868), mechanic, manufacturer and benefactor. Established a company for making wire in 1831 and over time developed key innovations in its manufacture. When he died in 1868, the company was the largest wire making firm in America. It was valued at one million dollars. Read more about Washburn & Moen Co. One of the founders of the Worcester County Free Institute of Industrial Science (1865), now the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).