List of people from Bridgeport, Connecticut

This is a list of notable people associated with Bridgeport, Connecticut who achieved great public distinction, listed in the category for which they are best known.

Athletes

Baseball players

These baseball players were born in or lived in the city: ^[1]

• Howard Baker, Major League baseball player ^[2]
• Cornelius "Neal" Ball, credited with the first unassisted triple play in the major leagues ^[3]
• George Bryant, MLB player for Detroit Wolverines ^[4]
• George "Kiddo" Davis, who in the 1933 World Series against the Washington Senators had 7 hits in 19 at-bats, and batted .368, helping the New York Giants win the championship ^[5]
• Rob Dibble, pitcher for Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, and Milwaukee Brewers ^[6]
• Angel Echevarria, played in National League for Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chicago Cubs ^[7]
• Ray Keating, pitched for the New York Highlanders, New York Yankees, and Boston Braves ^[8]
• Kurt Kepshire, or Kurt David Kepshire, pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals ^[9]
• Charles Nagy, pitcher for Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres, pitched in the 1995 and 1997 World Series ^[10]
• Tricky Nichols, pitcher for the Boston Red Caps, St. Louis Brown Stockings, Providence Grays, Worcester Ruby Legs and Baltimore Orioles ^[11]
• Jim O'Rourke (James Henry O'Rourke), first player to be credited with a hit and single in a professional baseball game ^[12]
• Ed Rowen, 19th-century baseball player for the Boston Red Caps and Philadelphia Athletics ^[13]
• Dan Shannon, played second base for the Louisville Colonels and the Philadelphia Quakers, and second base and shortstop for the New York Giants and the Washington Senators ^[14]
• Ed Wojna, pitcher for the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians ^[15]

Basketball players

• Courtney Alexander, played three seasons in the NBA and is currently an assistant coach of the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League ^[16]
• John Bagley, played for eleven seasons in the NBA ^[17]
• Walter Luckett, star high school and college player in the 1970s
• Wes Matthews, played ten seasons in the NBA
• Frank Oleynick, played two years for NBA in Seattle ^[18]
• Charles D. Smith, University of Pittsburgh and New York Knicks
• Chris Smith, University of Connecticut and Minnesota Timberwolves ^[19]
• Harper Williams, basketball player ^[20]

Football players

• Kevin Belcher, NFL player ^[21]
• Keith Dudzinski, college football player and coach
• Tony Elliott, played six seasons in the NFL
• Nick Giaquinto, played four seasons in the NFL ^[22]
• Ching Hammill, football player ^[23]
• Mike L. Jones, NFL player for Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks ^[24]
• Alex Joseph, pro football player

Soccer players

• Alyssa Naeher, goalkeeper for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) ^[25]

Hockey players

• Julie Chu, three-time Olympic ice hockey medalist ^[26]

Tennis players

• Sidney Wood, tennis player, won at Wimbledon in 1931, reached Davis Cup finals in 1934 ^[27]

Boxers

• Jack Delaney, world light heavyweight boxing champion ^[28]

Business people

• Kenton Clarke, founder of Computer Consulting Associates International Inc. ^[29]
• Fred DeLuca, founder of Subway ^[30]
• George Gilman, founder of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company ^[31]
• Edwin H. Land, founder of Polaroid Corporation ^[32]
• James Murren (born 1961), banker
• Nathaniel Wheeler, manufacturer of Wheeler & Wilson; state legislator
• Vincent Zarrilli, founder of The Pot Shop

Entertainers, artists, writers

• Emma Dunning Banks (1856-1931), actress, dramatic reader, teacher, and writer ^[33]
• P.T. Barnum, circus owner, entrepreneur and mayor of Bridgeport ^[34]
• Madeline Blair, prostitute and naval stowaway
• Robert O. Bowen, novelist
• Al Capp, cartoonist, creator of comic strip Li'l Abner ^[35]
• Adriana Caselotti, voice of Snow White ^[36]
• Adger Cowans, fine arts photographer and abstract painter ^[37]
• Perry DeAngelis, co-founder and executive director of NESS, co-founder of The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
• Sally Haley, artist and painter ^[38]
• Maureen Howard, author ^[39]
• Walt Kelly, cartoonist, creator of Pogo ^[40]
• Larry Kramer, playwright and gay rights activist, writer of The Normal Heart ^[41]
• Roy Neuberger, art collector and donor ^[42]
• Charles Schnee, screenwriter and film producer ^[43]
• Jim Shepard, author ^[44]
• Cyndy Szekeres, children's book author and illustrator
• General Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton), performer, little person ^[45]

Actors

• Richard Belzer, actor and comedian who once worked as a reporter for The Connecticut Post
• Alexandra Breckenridge, actress ^[46]
• Adriana Caselotti, actress ^[36]
• Bob Crane, actor known for his lead role in Hogan's Heroes ; radio host on WICC-AM in Bridgeport, 1950–1955
• Brian Dennehy, actor ^[47]
• John Forrest, actor
• Arline Judge, actress
• John Mitchum, actor
• Robert Mitchum, actor ^[48]
• Tony Musante, actor
• Kevin Nealon, comedian and actor ^[49]
• John Ratzenberger, actor known for role of Cliff Clavin in TV series Cheers ^[50]
• Bill Smitrovich, actor ^[51]
• Deborah Walley, actress
• Michael Jai White, actor ^[52]

Musicians

• Art Baron, jazz trombonist ^[53]
• Mimi Benzell, Metropolitan Opera soprano
• Joseph Celli, oboist
• Fanny Crosby, composer of more than 8,000 Christian hymns; lived here for the last fifteen years of her life; buried in the Mountain Grove Cemetery ^[54]
• Vernon Dalhart, singer-songwriter ^[55]
• Jessica Delfino, musician, comedian
• Jin Hi Kim, geomungo player and composer ^[56]
• Deon Kipping, gospel singer ^[57]
• Paul Leka, singer-songwriter, composer, member of band Steam, known for "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" ^[58]
• Angus Maclise, experimental musician and poet, founding member of The Velvet Underground
• John Mayer, singer-songwriter, born in Bridgeport, largely grew up in neighboring Fairfield ^[59]
• Peter McCann, singer-songwriter, "Do You Wanna Make Love", "Right Time of the Night"
• Syesha Mercado, singer, actress and American Idol contestant
• Lou "Boulder" Richards, guitarist (Hatebreed)
• Vinnie Vincent, guitarist (KISS)
• Justin Quiles, singer, songwriter

Musical groups

• The Alternate Routes (2002–present), rock band
• Hatebreed (1994–present), metallic hardcore band ^[60]
• Last Common Ancestor (2018–present), punk grunge band
• The Skinny Boys, 1980s rap group
• Steam, late 1960s pop band
• The Stepkids (2009–present), psych soul band
• Youthful Praise (2001–present), gospel choir ^[61]

The Zambonis (1991-present) , hockey rock ^[62]

Notable People

• David H. Burr, cartographer ^[63]
• Robert E. De Forest, Mayor, Congressman
• Paul Gottfried, former professor of Elizabethtown College
• Robert A. Hurley (1895–1968), Connecticut governor (first Roman Catholic to hold that office in Connecticut) ^[64]
• Leonard Mastroni (1949–2020), Kansas state representative and judge
• Anita McBride, chief of staff to the First Lady of the United States, 2005–2009
• Jasper McLevy (1933–1957), Mayor
• Margaret E. Morton (1924–2012), first African American woman to serve in the Connecticut General Assembly ^[65]
• Mae Schmidle, Connecticut state representative
• William Shaler, U.S. Consul in Mexico, Algiers and Havana
• James C. Shannon (1896–1980), Connecticut governor ^[66]
• Christopher Shays, Fourth District Congressman
• Samuel Simons (1792–1847), United States Representative from Connecticut

Inventors

C.F. Ritchel of Bridgeport riding his dirigible, as seen on the July 15, 1878 cover of Harper's Weekly

• Harvey Hubbell, inventor of the electric plug and the pull-chain light socket
• Lewis Latimer, inventor
• Charles F. Ritchel, inventor
• Gustave Whitehead, inventor
• William Higinbotham, worked on the nuclear bomb, created one of the first video games Tennis For Two.

Medical

• Alfred Fones, dentist credited with founding the profession of dental hygiene in 1906

Military

• David Hawley, Naval commander and privateer during the American Revolution
• Raymond Jacobs, claimed to be in photo of first flag raised on Iwo Jima in World War II
• Henry A. Mucci, led the raid that rescued survivors of the Bataan Death March in World War II

Religious

• Edward Egan, former Roman Catholic bishop of Bridgeport, later became the cardinal archbishop of New York

Other

• Victoria Leigh Soto, born in Bridgeport, former school teacher, victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, died at age 27

See also

• List of people from Connecticut
• List of people from Brookfield, Connecticut
• List of people from Darien, Connecticut
• List of people from Greenwich, Connecticut
• List of people from Hartford, Connecticut
• List of people from New Canaan, Connecticut
• List of people from New Haven, Connecticut
• List of people from Norwalk, Connecticut
• List of people from Redding, Connecticut
• List of people from Ridgefield, Connecticut
• List of people from Stamford, Connecticut
• List of people from Westport, Connecticut

References

1. The apparent source for many of these items is the "Major League Baseball Players born or raised in Bridgeport" page at the "Central High School" Web site, accessed August 13, 2006
2. "Howard Baker Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
3. Miller, Kathia (May 24, 2010). "First among the few: Cleveland's Neal Ball was first to turn unassisted triple play 100 years ago". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
4. "George Bryant Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
5. "Kiddo Davis Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
6. "Rob Dibble Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
7. "Angel Echevarria Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
8. "Ray Keating Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
9. "Kurt Kepshire Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
10. "Charles Nagy Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
11. "Tricky Nichols Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
12. "Jim O'Rourke". Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
13. "Ed Rowen Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
14. "Dan Shannon Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
15. "Ed Wojna Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
16. Proballers. "Courtney Alexander, Basketball Player". Proballers. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
17. "John Bagley | National Basketball Retired Players Association". November 13, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
18. Proballers. "Frank Oleynick, Basketball Player". Proballers. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
19. Proballers. "Chris Smith, Basketball Player". Proballers. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
20. Proballers. "Harper Williams, Basketball Player". Proballers. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
21. "Kevin Belcher Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
22. "Nick Giaquinto Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
23. "Ching Hammill Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
24. "Mike Jones Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
25. DaRosa, Andrew (November 24, 2021). "CT soccer star Alyssa Naeher nominated for top FIFA award". Connecticut Post. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
26. "Julie Chu - Player Profile - Ice Hockey". Eurosport UK. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
27. WTM (December 29, 2010). "The Wimbledon Final that never was and other Tennis Tales from a By-Gone Era". World Tennis Magazine. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
28. "Jack Delaney". www.ibhof.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
29. "Kenton Clarke Founder & CEO". OMNIKAL. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
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32. "Edwin Land Inventor of the Polaroid Born – Today in History: May 7 - Connecticut History | a CTHumanities Project". Connecticut History | a CTHumanities Project - Stories about the people, traditions, innovations, and events that make up Connecticut's rich history. May 7, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
33. The Masqueraders: Or, Game of Dominoes. E.S. Werner. 1905. p. 2. Retrieved May 3, 2024. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
34. "P.T. Barnum, The Man, The Myth, The Legend". The Barnum Museum. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
35. Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine "Al Capp" Web page at Web site of Bridgeport Central High School, accessed August 13, 2006
36. Sullivan, Sarajane (February 19, 2021). "Did you know these Connecticut actresses voiced Disney princesses?". Connecticut Post. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
37. Lang, Joel (February 14, 2021). "Kamoinge Collective". No. Sunday Arts & Style. Hearst Media Services Connecticut LLC.
38. Kathleen Glanville, The Oregonian (September 2, 2007). "Sally Haley, famous Northwest painter, dies in Portland at 99". oregonlive. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
39. "Maureen Howard, novelist of refinement and self-exploration, dies at 91". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved November 14, 2022.
40. "Walt Kelly: Creator of Pogo – Bridgeport History Center" . Retrieved November 14, 2022.
41. Fornabaio, Michael (May 27, 2020). "CT native and AIDS activist Larry Kramer dies at 84". Connecticut Post. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
42. "Roy R. Neuberger". www.arts.gov. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
43. "Charles Schnee". www.wga.org. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
44. "Jim Shepard | Jewish Book Council". www.jewishbookcouncil.org. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
45. Shennan, Paddy (May 28, 2016). "Book recalls how 'Tom Thumb' made his first British stage debut in Liverpool". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
46. Tuccio-Koonz, Linda (July 12, 2022). "A Netflix star's journey to 'Virgin River' (via Bridgeport CT)". CT Insider. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
47. O’Neill, Tara (April 16, 2020). "'Tommy Boy' actor Brian Dennehy, longtime CT resident, dies at 81". Connecticut Post. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
48. Wilson, Earl (November 27, 1969). "Small Towns Have Produced Many Big Stars". The Milwaukee Sentinel. pp. A33. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
49. Valluzzo, Andrea (May 2, 2022). "Comedian Kevin Nealon returns to alma mater, Sacred Heart". Connecticut Post. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
50. Saunders, Mark (April 6, 2016). "Bridgeport native, Hollywood icon John Ratzenberger turns 69". Connecticut Post. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
51. Grandjean, Pat (November 16, 2010). "Q & A: Bill Smitrovich". CT Insider. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
52. Writer, Scott Gargan, Staff (November 23, 2011). "Street tough turned Hollywood star Michael Jai White returns to Bridgeport for YMCA benefit". Connecticut Post. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
53. "The lasting spell of a musical colossus". Morning Star. September 3, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
54. "Fanny Crosby – Bridgeport History Center" . Retrieved November 14, 2022.
55. "Why Is America's First Country Music Superstar Buried In Bridgeport?". WSHU. August 17, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
56. "Connecticut composer uses ancient Korean instrument to create music for today". Connecticut Public. January 27, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
57. Cummings, Bill (June 26, 2020). "Racial inequity exposed by coronavirus drives new reforms". Connecticut Post. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
58. Burgeson, John (December 26, 2011). "The Lives They Lived: Paul Leka". Connecticut Post. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
59. Gargan, Scott (December 17, 2013). "Born and Raised: 10 things you may not know about John Mayer". Connecticut Post. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
60. "Being Thrown Off Warped Tour Was The Push Into The Metal World We…". Kerrang!. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
61. Gargan, Scott (April 30, 2012). "Bridgeport's J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise makes mark in gospel world". Connecticut Post. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
62. https://thezambonis.com
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66. "James Coughlin Shannon" Web page at Bridgeport Central High School Web site, accessed August 13, 2006

External links

• List of major league baseball players from Bridgeport