Carol Fisher Linn
Over the past few weeks, it has been a genuine pleasure to reveal the stories of famous people from our geographic region. At this time of year, when the brilliantly colored landscape beckons visitors from far and wide, we, who live here and experience this glory every year sometimes fail to take the time to recognize our Western New York gem for what it is. Yet, when visitors come and tarry a while, we are reminded of the wealth of nature we have at our feet. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was a frequent visitor to his friend Judge Thomas H. Dowd in the village of Cattaraugus in the early 1900’s. Why, even people who have traveled the world have remarked how they fell in love with us while spending time in the area. Robert Redford, (Redford lived in Buffalo for three months while filming The Natural in 1983, long before its metamorphic turnaround in later years), who recently died at a rich, well-lived age of 89 is quoted as saying during a 2001 interview with USA Magazine’s Jeffrey Zaslow whose wife hails from Buffalo, “You tell your wife I think Buffalo’s got one of the great bum raps,” Redford said. “It’s a beautiful city.” He went on to say, “I love that city,” Redford said, “and it was in a very depressed economic state right then.”
MLB playoffs begin September 30 so it might interest you to know that Orel Hershiser (born 1958) was a Two Hundred Game winner, across eighteen Major League Baseball seasons, the crafty lefty is best known for his 1988 season where he was named the NLCS and World Series MVP, as well as taking home a Cy Young, and Gold Glove award for the LA Dodgers. Born in Buffalo, His family relocated several times during his childhood, moving from Buffalo to Detroit, Michigan, and then to Toronto, Ontario, when he was twelve. During his time in Toronto, Hershiser played in little league baseball while also participating in ice hockey with the Don Mills Flyers in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. His athletic abilities appeared at a young age and his father served as a little league coach. Hershiser was a key figure in a Dodgers’ bullpen that helped the team reach the World Series in 1988, where he dominated with an outstanding performance. He also had an excellent career as a sports broadcaster after retiring from playing. He has served as a commentator for ESPN and the Dodgers’ broadcasting team.
In 1864 Marian de Forest, founder of ZONTA Club International was born in Buffalo, NY. At 20 she graduated from Buffalo Seminary and began her newspaper career as a reporter, one of the first women in this profession in western New York. She joined Buffalo Express serving as editor of the Women’s Department and dramatic editor for 22 years. Encouraging women to take a prominent role in theater, Ms. de Forest earned national and international fame, traveling abroad as an author, publisher and director. Later, she played a major role in bringing symphony orchestras to Buffalo with her focus on educating children. In 1932 she promoted the very first Pop Concert, giving work to unemployed musicians thus playing a major role in the formation of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. She is listed in the Notable Women in American Theater and Who’s Who in America. Belonging to a long list of civic organizations it was de Forest who formed Zonta International, the first women’s service organization to work with the UN. Their outreach efforts are innumerable, amounting to millions of dollars given annually across the globe. Ms. De Forest is a member of WNY Women’s Hall of Fame.
Happy Birthday to Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald (Sept. 24, 1896-Dec. 21, 1940), who lived there from age 1 to age 12. Fitzgerald’s father was employed by Proctor & Gamble in Buffalo, and their one-time residence at 29 Irving Place is now part of the Allentown Historic District. In Fitzgerald’s writing, he shows off his knowledge and memories of Buffalo in the last paragraphs of “Tender In the Night.” Here he recounts the downward spiral of ruined doctor Dick Diver. “Poor Diver begins in Buffalo and slides from one town to another, each a little shabbier than the last.” Western New Yorkers will understand as no other readers will.
Six (or less) levels of separation — quick facts about famous people peripherally connected to the region:
*Tom Cruise, born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, an actor and producer, was born in Syracuse.
*Tommy Hilfiger, Fashion designer, is a native of Elmira, NY.
Why not share with us those in your personal six levels of separation? If you have a story to tell please let us know, we would love to share it with our readers. It’s simple! Logon to www.thevillagerny.com and click the “General Submissions” tab. We look forward to hearing from you and sharing your stories of our region!