This episode of the Rochester History Podcast highlights the legacy of Edmund Breton, one of the city’s most promising young athletes.

Featured in the Rochester Elks Sports Hall of Fame (located inside the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center), Breton was a standout baseball player and a 1943 graduate of Spaulding High School. That same year, he was signed by the Boston Red Sox, positioning him as a rising star in the sport.

Tragically, his life was cut short by war. Breton enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served aboard the USS Franklin, an aircraft carrier that would go on to suffer the heaviest casualties of any surviving U.S. warship. In March 1945, Breton was killed in action in the Pacific Theater at just 20 years old.

The episode honors his memory, recounts his achievements, and reflects on the broader story of the USS Franklin—a vessel forever linked to sacrifice, courage, and the lives of those who served aboard her.

The Rochester Historical Society and Museum is located on Hanson Street. Visit www.rochesternh.gov/history for hours of operation, upcoming events, and additional information.