Renowned storyteller and TV personality Mo Rocca recently brought his unique brand of historical exploration to Worcester State University, offering insightful and often amusing commentary on history as well as modern life.
Rocca, known for his work on CBS Sunday Morning and his podcast “Mobituaries,” delighted the crowd with his infectious enthusiasm for uncovering hidden histories.
“I like to make people interested in things they didn’t expect to be interested in,” he said.
Drawing connections between Worcester’s own storied past and the broader American narrative, Rocca wove together a tapestry of little-known facts and engaging anecdotes that left the audience captivated.
From the first commercial production of Shredded Wheat to the pioneering work of rocket scientist Robert Goddard, the Emmy-winning author and humorist highlighted the wealth of impactful stories rooted in the Worcester region. His ability to breathe new life into the past underscored the power of storytelling to illuminate the human experiences that shape our shared history.
The event was co-sponsored by Worcester State and the Museum of Worcester. The format was question-and-answer with three panelists taking turns posing queries to Rocca. Panelists were Joshua Koenig, associate professor of history at Worcester State, Brian Boyles, executive director of Mass Humanities, and Maritza Cruz, whose affiliations include being a co-founder of the Latino History Project of Worcester and a member of the Museum of Worcester board of trustees. A book signing followed the speaking program.
Here are some takeaways and anecdotes from what was a lighthearted and engaging evening:
Age is just a number
Rocca joked about his age (56), saying it meant he now must take different pills, like the cholesterol medication Lipitor. He went on to note that he now tries to convince himself that eating shredded wheat is adjacent to eating his preferred version of the cereal, Frosted Mini-Wheats.
Not so “happy days” for one sitcom character
He shared the story of how the character Chuck Cunningham on the sitcom “Happy Days” quietly disappeared because the show’s creator decided they didn’t need an older brother character once the Fonz became more popular. “Chuck just went up the stairs to bed one night and he never came down again,” he said.
A shared history of invention between Worcester and Lemonister
Rocca declared that for the purposes of his visit, he had decided that Worcester and Leominster are “sister cities” since they are nearby and have so many inventions between them.
History is full of amazing people
Rocca emphasized the importance of focusing on individual stories and protagonists to make history more engaging and relevant, using examples like Reconstruction-era Black congressmen and Elizabeth Jennings, an African American civil rights activist whom he called the “Rosa Parks of the 19th century.”
Beyond the Classroom
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Appearing in partnership with the Museum of Worcester, the Emmy-winning CBS correspondent Mo Rocca is set to speak at Worcester State University on December 3. Rocca is famous for his humorous yet . . .