List of people from Utica, New York

This article lists notable people from Utica, New York.

Nineteenth century and earlier

• Amariah Brigham, psychiatrist
• Alexander Bryan Johnson – Prominent Utica banker. Was a self taught philosopher and political writer, married to the grand daughter of president John Adams
• Francis Marion Burdick – American legal scholar was mayor of Utica (1882-1883), (born at De Ruyter, New York)
• John T. Clark, civil engineer and politician
• Jane Elizabeth Dexter Conklin – poet, journalist, and religious writer
• Roscoe Conkling – U.S. Senator and Republican Stalwart political leader was Mayor of Utica and is buried there. ^{[1] [2]}
• Marianne Cope – religious sister and Roman Catholic saint
• Arthur Bowen Davies – artist, was born in Utica.
• Harold Frederic, author and journalist, was born and raised in Utica. His remains were buried in Utica's Forest Hill Cemetery.
• Grace May North – author, was born in Utica.
• Pádraig Phiarais Cúndún (1777–1856) – Irish-American homesteader and composer of American poetry in the Irish-language. Arrived in Utica in 1826 and buried there.
• Horatio Seymour – New York State Governor and Democratic presidential candidate was a native of Utica and is buried there. ^{[3] [4]}
• James Schoolcraft Sherman – U.S. Vice-President was born in Utica and is buried there. ^{[5] [6]}
• Carrie Babcock Sherman – James Schoolcraft Sherman's wife, was born in Utica.
• Gerrit Smith – social reformer, abolitionist, politician, and philanthropist was born in Utica.
• Benjamin Walker – Revolutionary war soldier lived the last 20 years of his life in Utica. ^[7]
• Chandler J. Wells – former Mayor of Buffalo, New York, was born in Utica.

Twentieth and twenty-first century

Arts and entertainment

• Kim Bass, screenwriter, producer, and director
• Mark Bodé – artist, was born in Utica; son of Vaughn Bodē
• Vaughn Bodē – artist, was born in Utica. ^[8] and graduated from Proctor High School; ^[9]
• Joe Bonamassa – blues musician ^[10]
• Steven Brill – film producer, director and screenwriter ^[11]
• Neave Brown – London-based architect and artist
• Dick Clark – lived briefly in Utica and began his television career there, hosting a country music show on WKTV. ^[12]
• Daryl Cobb – children's book author and national children's educational presenter, ^[13] was born in Utica. ^[14]
• Fran Cosmo – musician of the band Boston ^[15]
• Tommy DeCarlo – musician of the band Boston ^[16]
• Debbie Friedman – singer-songwriter of Jewish religious-themed songs, was born in Utica ^[17]
• Annette Funicello – actress and singer was born in Utica on October 22, 1942. ^[18] She poked mild fun at the city in her ^[19] song "The Promised Land" ^[20] Funicello also makes reference to Utica in the 1960 Sherman Brothers authored song "Hawaiian Love Talk" singing: "I think that you're much cuter than the day we met in Utica".
• Lincoln Holroyd – performer, bandleader and music educator in Utica from 1905 until his death in 1961.
• Angela Johnson – singer born and raised in Utica. ^[21]
• moe. – jam rock band ^[22]
• Ron O'Neal – actor, was born in Utica.
• Tiffany Pollard – actress and television personality, known for Flavor of Love and I Love New York

Sports

• George Burns – former Major League Baseball outfielder for the New York Giants, was born in Utica in 1889
• Dave Cash – Major League Baseball infielder and three-time All-Star, was born in Utica in 1948
• Robert Esche – National Hockey League goalie and sports executive affiliated with the Utica Comets
• Chris Garrett – running back in Canadian Football League grew up in Utica
• Jim Jackson (sportscaster) – play by play broadcaster for the Philadelphia Flyers
• Mark Lemke – former Major League Baseball player was born in Utica
• Art Mills – Major League Baseball pitcher and coach of the 1945 World Series champion Detroit Tigers, was born in Utica in 1903
• Len Rossi – pro wrestler
• Will Smith – NFL defensive end and New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame member graduated from Thomas R. Proctor High School in Utica
• Andy Van Slyke – former Major League Baseball outfielder was born in Utica

Business

• Harry H. Bassett (1874–1926) – automaker, president of Buick (1920–1926), was born in Utica.
• Steve Wynn – real estate developer, hotel and casino mogul ^[23]

Politicians

See also: List of mayors of Utica, New York

• Mike Arcuri – former U.S. Congressman
• Sherwood Boehlert – former U.S. Congressman
• Anthony Brindisi – former U.S. Congressman
• Fred J. Douglas – former U.S. Congressman
• Rufus Elefante – Democratic political boss
• Charles A. Talcott – former U.S. Congressman

Other

• Daniel Barwick – author, fundraiser, journalist, podcaster, higher education administrator, and teacher
• Elizabeth E. Farrell (1870–1932) – educator
• Michael Kernan – former Washington Post journalist
• Paul Krugman – economist, professor at City University of New York, columnist for the New York Times
• Cherilla Storrs Lowrey (1861–1918)–clubwoman in Hawaii, born in Utica
• John D. MacDonald – best-selling crime novelist, grew up in Utica
• Dan Senor – columnist, writer, and political advisor to Mitt Romney
• John Zogby – political pollster

Fictional characters

• Gary Chalmers – Superintendent of Springfield School District on the American television cartoon series The Simpsons
• Karen Filippelli – Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Utica Branch on the American television comedy The Office
• Uncle Leo - Alice Kramden's uncle in The Honeymooners

References

1. United States Congress. "Roscoe Conkling (id: C000681)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
2. NNDB
3. Oneida County Freedom Trail
4. Mrs. Mecomber (June 14, 2008). "Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, NY". New York Traveler. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
5. United States Congress. "James Schoolcraft Sherman (id: S000345)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .
6. NNDB
7. "WALKER, Benjamin, (1753 - 1818)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Office of the Historian, United States Congress. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
8. "Feature Artist: Vaughn Bode". A&H Magazine. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
9. "Happy Herbs". Art and Architecture – San Francisco. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
10. Browning, Tamara (May 3, 2012). "Guitarist Joe Bonamassa born to play the blues". State Journal-Register. Archived from the original on August 29, 2019.
11. Steve Brill. Festival del Sole. Retrieved on 2013-08-23.
12. Chuck Dauphin (April 19, 2012). "Dick Clark Could Rock, But He Started Out Country". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
13. Bostwick, Joanne. "Author Visits by Daryl Cobb". Author Visits by Daryl Cobb. Daryl Cobb Production. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
14. Bostwick, Joanne. "About Daryl Cobb - Scrap Book". authorvisitsbydarylcobb.com/aboutme.html. Daryl Cobb Productions. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
15. "Utica native finds musical home on independent label". Utica Observer Dispatch. October 14, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
16. Derminio, Andrew; Todd, Nicole. "Utica Native And Boston Singer, Coming To Stanley Theatre". WIBX 950. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
17. Elaine Woo (January 11, 2011). "Debbie Friedman, self-taught Jewish folk singer, dies at 59". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 11, 2013.
18. Annette Funicello at IMDb
19. "Music". Annette Connection. Retrieved June 23, 2013. Promised Land, a song she and her husband, Glen Holt wrote together telling the story of her and her family's journey from New York to California.
20. Davey Jones (April 8, 2013). "Was Annette Funicello Making Fun Of Utica In 1983 With The Song "The Promised Land"?". WODZ 96.1 AM. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
21. "Angela Johnson: A one-woman soul band".
22. moe. at AllMusic
23. John Arlidge (January 11, 2009). "Steve Wynn: Raising the stakes in Vegas". Sunday Times. Retrieved January 20, 2011.