John Rzeznik

2013 MusiCares Person of the Year Honoring Bruce Springsteen - Arrivals

Rzeznik in 2013, photo by prphotos

Birth Name: John Joseph Theodore Rzeznik

Place of Birth: Buffalo, New York, U.S.

Date of Birth: December 5, 1965

Ethnicity:
*father – Polish
*mother – German, English, distant Swiss-German

John Rzeznik is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. He is the guitarist and frontman of rock band Goo Goo Dolls. Other members of the band include/have included Mike Malinin, Robby Takac, and George Tutuska. He is also known as Johnny Rzeznik.

John is the son of Edith and Joseph Rzeznik. His last name means “butcher” in Polish. He is married to Melina Gallo, with whom he has a daughter.

John’s paternal grandparents were Polish.

John’s paternal grandmother was named Agnes.

John’s maternal grandfather was Earl W. Pomeroy (the son of John L. Pomeroy and Katie/Catherine/Kate/Katherine Miller/Müeller). Earl was born in New York. Katherine was born in New York, to German parents, Jacob Frank Mueller and Maria/Mary Barbara Bartule, who was from Bergstraße, Hessen.

John’s maternal grandmother was Mildred E. Roote/Root (the daughter of Henry Miles Root and Anna Elizabeth Young/Sanford). Mildred was born in Pennsylvania. Henry was the son of Henry M. Root and Susan/Susanna G. Conrad. Anna was the daughter of John Young and Nettie.

Sources: John’s father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

John’s mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

John’s maternal grandfather, Earl W. Pomeroy, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

Obituary of John’s maternal grandfather, Earl W. Pomeroy – http://fultonhistory.com

John’s maternal grandmother, Mildred E. Roote/Root, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

2 Responses

  1. andrew says:

    Agnes Rzeznik is his paternal grandfather, not grandmother.

    John’s maternal grandfather was Earl W. Pomeroy (the son of John L. Pomeroy and Catherine). Earl was born in New York. John was the son of Barbara Müeller, who was German.

    John’s maternal grandmother was Mildred E. Roote (the daughter of Henry Miles Root and Anna Elizabeth Sanford). Mildred was born in Pennsylvania. Henry was the son of Henry M. Root and Susan Conrad. Anna was the daughter of Samuel Sanford, who was Irish, and of Mary Ann Mcguigen, who was Scottish.

    * Polish (father)
    * German, as well as Irish, Scottish, distant Swiss-German (mother)

    https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/LRVY-DGN
    https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZMB-MJK?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=LLCQ-GTT

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