List of people from Bridgeport, Connecticut explained

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
• 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)
• Robert Wendel, composer, musician
• 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]

Government service

• David H. Burr, cartographer^[62]
• 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)^[63]
• Leonard Mastroni (1949–2020), Kansas state representative and judge
• Jasper McLevy (1933–1957), Mayor
• Margaret E. Morton (1924–2012), first African American woman to serve in the Connecticut General Assembly^[64]
• Mae Schmidle, Connecticut state representative
• William Shaler, U.S. Consul in Mexico, Algiers and Havana
• James C. Shannon (1896–1980), Connecticut governor^[65]
• Christopher Shays, Fourth District Congressman
• Samuel Simons (1792–1847), United States Representative from Connecticut

Inventors

• Harvey Hubbell, inventor of the electric plug and the pull-chain light socket
• Louis 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

External links

• List of major league baseball players from Bridgeport

Notes and References

1. http://bridgeport.ct.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=19938
2. Web site: Howard Baker Stats. Baseball Almanac . December 21, 2012.
3. News: First among the few: Cleveland's Neal Ball was first to turn unassisted triple play 100 years ago. Miller. Kathia. May 24, 2010. The Plain Dealer. September 11, 2012.
4. Web site: George Bryant Stats. Baseball Almanac . December 21, 2012.
5. Web site: Kiddo Davis Stats. Baseball Almanac . December 21, 2012.
6. Web site: Rob Dibble Stats. Baseball Almanac . December 21, 2012.
7. Web site: Angel Echevarria Stats. Baseball Almanac . December 21, 2012.
8. Web site: Ray Keating Stats. Baseball Almanac . December 21, 2012.
9. Web site: Kurt Kepshire Stats. Baseball Almanac . December 21, 2012.
10. Web site: Charles Nagy Stats. Baseball Almanac . December 21, 2012.
11. Web site: Tricky Nichols Stats. Baseball Almanac . December 21, 2012.
12. Web site: Jim O'Rourke . 2022-05-22 . Baseball Hall of Fame . en.
13. Web site: Ed Rowen Stats. Baseball Almanac . December 21, 2012.
14. Web site: Dan Shannon Stats. Baseball Almanac . December 21, 2012.
15. Web site: Ed Wojna Stats. Baseball Almanac . December 21, 2012.
16. Web site: Proballers . Courtney Alexander, Basketball Player . 2022-11-14 . Proballers . en.
17. Web site: 2014-11-13 . John Bagley National Basketball Retired Players Association . 2022-11-14 . en-US.
18. Web site: Proballers . Frank Oleynick, Basketball Player . 2022-11-14 . Proballers . en.
19. Web site: Proballers . Chris Smith, Basketball Player . 2022-11-14 . Proballers . en.
20. Web site: Proballers . Harper Williams, Basketball Player . 2022-11-14 . Proballers . en.
21. Web site: Kevin Belcher Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . 2022-11-14 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
22. Web site: Nick Giaquinto Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . 2022-11-14 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
23. Web site: Ching Hammill Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . 2022-11-14 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
24. Web site: Mike Jones Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . 2022-11-14 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
25. Web site: DaRosa . Andrew . 2021-11-24 . CT soccer star Alyssa Naeher nominated for top FIFA award . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut Post . en-US.
26. Web site: Julie Chu - Player Profile - Ice Hockey . 2022-11-14 . Eurosport UK . en.
27. Web site: WTM . 2010-12-29 . The Wimbledon Final that never was and other Tennis Tales from a By-Gone Era . 2022-11-14 . World Tennis Magazine . en-US.
28. Web site: Jack Delaney . 2022-11-14 . www.ibhof.com.
29. Web site: Kenton Clarke Founder & CEO . 2022-11-14 . OMNIKAL . en-US.
30. Web site: Risi . Jan . 2022-01-19 . Working Alongside Subway's Co-Founder Taught Me the Greatest Lesson of My Professional Life . 2022-11-14 . Entrepreneur . en.
31. Book: Levinson, Marc . The Great A&P and the struggle for small business in America . Hill and Wang . 2011 . 978-0-8090-9543-8.
32. Web site: 2022-05-07 . Edwin Land Inventor of the Polaroid Born – Today in History: May 7 - Connecticut History a CTHumanities Project . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut History a CTHumanities Project - Stories about the people, traditions, innovations, and events that make up Connecticut's rich history. . en.
33. Book: The Masqueraders: Or, Game of Dominoes . 1905 . E.S. Werner . 2 . 3 May 2024 . en.
34. Web site: P.T. Barnum, The Man, The Myth, The Legend . 2022-11-14 . The Barnum Museum . en-US.
35. http://bridgeport.ct.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=5111
36. Web site: Sullivan . Sarajane . 2021-02-19 . Did you know these Connecticut actresses voiced Disney princesses? . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut Post . en-US.
37. News: Lang . Joel . Kamoinge Collective . Sunday Arts & Style . Hearst Media Services Connecticut LLC . 14 February 2021.
38. Web site: Kathleen Glanville . The Oregonian . 2007-09-02 . Sally Haley, famous Northwest painter, dies in Portland at 99 . 2022-11-14 . oregonlive . en.
39. News: Maureen Howard, novelist of refinement and self-exploration, dies at 91 . en-US . Washington Post . 2022-11-14 . 0190-8286.
40. Web site: Walt Kelly: Creator of Pogo – Bridgeport History Center . 2022-11-14 . en-US.
41. Web site: Fornabaio . Michael . 2020-05-27 . CT native and AIDS activist Larry Kramer dies at 84 . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut Post . en-US.
42. Web site: Roy R. Neuberger . 2022-11-14 . www.arts.gov . en.
43. Web site: Charles Schnee . 2022-11-14 . www.wga.org . en.
44. Web site: Jim Shepard Jewish Book Council . 2022-11-14 . www.jewishbookcouncil.org . en.
45. Web site: Shennan . Paddy . 2016-05-28 . Book recalls how 'Tom Thumb' made his first British stage debut in Liverpool . 2022-11-14 . Liverpool Echo . en.
46. Web site: Tuccio-Koonz . Linda . 2022-07-12 . A Netflix star's journey to 'Virgin River' (via Bridgeport CT) . 2022-11-14 . CT Insider . en-US.
47. Web site: O’Neill . Tara . 2020-04-16 . 'Tommy Boy' actor Brian Dennehy, longtime CT resident, dies at 81 . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut Post . en-US.
48. News: Small Towns Have Produced Many Big Stars . The Milwaukee Sentinel . Nov 27, 1969 . 22 May 2015 . Wilson, Earl . A33.
49. Web site: Valluzzo . Andrea . 2022-05-02 . Comedian Kevin Nealon returns to alma mater, Sacred Heart . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut Post . en-US.
50. Web site: Saunders . Mark . 2016-04-06 . Bridgeport native, Hollywood icon John Ratzenberger turns 69 . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut Post . en-US.
51. Web site: Grandjean . Pat . 2010-11-16 . Q & A: Bill Smitrovich . 2022-11-14 . CT Insider . en-US.
52. Web site: Writer . Scott Gargan, Staff . 2011-11-23 . Street tough turned Hollywood star Michael Jai White returns to Bridgeport for YMCA benefit . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut Post . en-US.
53. Web site: 2021-09-03 . The lasting spell of a musical colossus . 2022-11-14 . Morning Star . en.
54. Web site: Fanny Crosby – Bridgeport History Center . 2022-11-14 . en-US.
55. Web site: 2016-08-17 . Why Is America's First Country Music Superstar Buried In Bridgeport? . 2022-11-14 . WSHU . en.
56. Web site: 2022-01-27 . Connecticut composer uses ancient Korean instrument to create music for today . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut Public . en.
57. Web site: Cummings . Bill . 2020-06-26 . Racial inequity exposed by coronavirus drives new reforms . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut Post . en-US.
58. Web site: Burgeson . John . 2011-12-26 . The Lives They Lived: Paul Leka . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut Post . en-US.
59. Web site: Gargan . Scott . 2013-12-17 . Born and Raised: 10 things you may not know about John Mayer . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut Post . en-US.
60. Web site: Being Thrown Off Warped Tour Was The Push Into The Metal World We… . 2022-11-14 . Kerrang! . en.
61. Web site: Gargan . Scott . 2012-04-30 . Bridgeport's J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise makes mark in gospel world . 2022-11-14 . Connecticut Post . en-US.
62. Web site: David H. Burr. Geographicus. 23 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20141113162805/http://www.geographicus.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CAD&Product_Code=burr. 13 November 2014. dead.
63. http://bridgeport.ct.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=5113
64. Web site: Hamilton. Annie M.. 2012-03-24. Margaret Morton: A political pioneer and role model for women, blacks. 2022-01-19. Hartford Courant. en.
65. http://bridgeport.ct.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=5114