Rogers was born in Montclair, New Jersey, to Albert and Laura Rice. He attended elementary school in Montclair, and his high school years were spent at the Northwood School in Lake Placid, New York, and The Lawrenceville School in Princeton, New Jersey. He attended Colgate University, enjoying skiing and hockey, and graduated in 1951. His older sisters, Rosemary and Alison, pre-deceased him.
Rogers left high school in 1945 (returning to finish his studies in 1946) to join the United States Navy. He served as Seaman First Class for just over a year, and then served active reserve duty for 24 1/2 years as a naval intelligence officer, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander.
Rogers was a banker for his entire career, working first at the Chemical Bank in New York, then The First National Iron Bank in New Jersey, and finally at Suffield Bank in Connecticut until his retirement in 1987. He was a member of The Jaycees, The Lions Club, The Rotary Club and The Naval Order of the U.S. After retiring and moving to Cape Cod, he taught sailing, worked in a boatyard and operated a bed and breakfast for five years with his wife Jeanne from their home in Brewster.
He married his first wife, Ginger, in 1950, raising their six children in New Jersey. When not helping his children with their musical, equestrian, and gymnastic interests, he could be found tending to the yard, a life-long passion. His wife, Ginger, died of cancer at 48 years old.
He married his second wife, Jeanne, in 1980. They enjoyed golf, traveling with friends, and sailing the waters off Cape Cod in their 31’ sailboat. After Jeanne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Rogers cared for her for ten years in their Brewster home until her death at 88, in 2018.
The last chapter of Rogers’ life included solving the Cape Cod Times crossword puzzle and reading a few chapters of a mystery novel or history book every morning, tending to his yard, a trip to Bermuda with his extended family, and most of all — lunching with friends several times a week at his favorite Cape Cod restaurant, The Brewster Chowder House.
Rogers is survived by his children Tom, Sue, Amy, Carol, Sally, and Billy; his grandchildren Jessie, Amber, Shaina, Nick, and Matt; and great-grandson Colson.
Despite life’s trials and tribulations, Rogers was forever an optimist. On the morning of his passing, he was looking forward to going home and said, “Better days are coming!”.
Because of the pandemic, a service is not being held. A memorial book is being created, and if you would like a copy, please email your address to [email protected].
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