Brookline, Massachusetts is the birthplace of several famous people throughout history, most notably the 35th president of the United States. John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline on May 29, 1917 and lived here with his family for 10 years. Today, many notable people make their home in Brookline. These include:
- Dan Rosenthal, former White House staff member: Rosenthal served as a senior staff member under President Bill Clinton from 1995 to 2000. He was named Assistant to the President at age 33, the youngest person to ever earn that title.
- Michael Dukakis, former governor of Massachusetts and presidential candidate: Dukakis was the governor from 1975 to 1979 and again from 1983 to 1991, making him the longest serving governor in Massachusetts’ history. He ran for president against George H. W. Bush in 1988 on the Democratic ticket.
- Jessica Keener, author of Night Swim and distinguished poet: Although Keener did not grow up in Brookline, she has strong family roots here and decided to move here in 1973. She wrote Night Swim a short time later, a novel exploring the complicated mother-daughter relationship dynamic. Keener’s poetry has been published in The Boston Globe, Coastal Living, and other popular regional publications.
- Ronald Probstein, M.I.T. professor emeritus: Probstein grew up in poverty in Brooklyn, New York and later settled in Brookline. He overcame numerous early obstacles on his way to a successful career. Some of his most notable accomplishments include making sea water safe to drink, helping to launch man into space, and creating synthetic fuels.
To learn more about notable people currently living in Brookline, click here!
