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Famous people · Westfield

Scientists and doctors stand out among the 31 famous people born in Westfield

Best known of all is Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, written about in 20 languages. Behind the leader come Frederic Rzewski and Don Pardo. The largest group, 9, was born in the early republic. The list comes to 7.7 for every 10,000 residents, against 4.5 in the typical town in Massachusetts.

#1 best knownFerdinand Vandeveer HaydenScience & Medicine · 1829–1887
+27more
Born here
31
notable people
Best known
Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden
in 20 Wikipedia languages
First
1737
William Shepard
Youngest
1994
Haleigh Poutre
Most common field
Politics & Law
9 people

What stands out about Westfield’s famous people

★ What stands out · Known for

What Westfield is known for

The field furthest above the usual share is scientists and doctors, at 2.2 times.

The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.

The best known

Born in Westfield

Languages with an article: 20 for Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden, 20 for Frederic Rzewski, 15 for Don Pardo.

Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden#1
Science & Medicine

Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden

1829–1887

U.S geologist and surgeon

20 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
FR#2
Music

Frederic Rzewski

1938–2021

American pianist and composer

20 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
DP#3
Film, TV & Stage

Don Pardo

1918–2014

American announcer

15 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years

When Westfield’s famous people were born

No decade has more births than the 1910s, at 3.

Colonial daysA new nationMills & railroadsThe American centuryToday175018001850190019502000Jim MatheosFerdinand Vandeveer HaydenJoseph B. Ely
Politics & LawSportsWriting & ArtsScience & MedicineMusicFilm, TV & StageMilitaryNotable

Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.

Everyone

Everyone else born in Westfield

Here are 28 more, born from 1737 to 1994.

Frederick H. Gillett

Frederick H. Gillett

1851–1935

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Anne Pitoniak

Anne Pitoniak

1922–2007

American actress

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Joseph B. Ely

Joseph B. Ely

1881–1956

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Edward Bancroft

Edward Bancroft

1744–1821

British naturalist and chemist (1745-1821) (1745 in New-Style dating)

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
William Shepard

William Shepard

1737–1817

Massachusetts American Revolutionary War officer, militia general during Shays' Rebellion

Adonis Terry

Adonis Terry

1864–1915

Major League Baseball player

Clara Jessup Moore

Clara Jessup Moore

1824–1899

American writer and philanthropist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
AR

Anna Chapin Ray

1865–1945

American writer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
BH

Bob Hubbard

1922–2011

Former American professional basketball player

Thomas Bangs Thorpe

Thomas Bangs Thorpe

1815–1878

American writer and artist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
DT

Dan Trant

1961–2001

American basketball player

Henry W. King

Henry W. King

1815–1857

Graduate of Cincinnati Law School

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
John Velis

John Velis

born 1979

Politician in Massachusetts, US

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Michael Knapik

Michael Knapik

born 1963

Politician in Massachusetts, US

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
RA

Richard L. Allen

1803–1869

American journalist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
AH

Al Hubbard

1860–1930

American baseball player

ES

Eddie Sadowski

1915–1992

American basketball player

GP

Gorham Parks

1794–1877

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
HP

Haleigh Poutre

born 1994

American medical controversy

JW

James Augustine Walsh

1906–1991

United States federal judge

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
JS

James H. Gray, Sr.

1916–1986

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
WK

Walt Kowalczyk

1935–2018

American football player

AL

Arthur Loomis

1859–1935

American architect

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
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Next door

Famous people from the towns next door

The most names next door are in Holyoke: 53.

From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Westfield and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.

Photo credits (17)