Edward Rogus

There was an empty place at the Rogus Christmas table this year. Husband, father, and grandfather, Edward F. ‘Gus’ Rogus joined his parents, Frank and Marion Rogus, and his brother Paul for their traditional Polish Christmas Eve feast with the angels. He died, another tragic victim of COVID-19, on December 16, 2020.

Gus’s long, productive, and colorful life is best summed up in five Fs: Faith, Family, Friends, Food, and, to anyone who asked him how he was doing, Faaaannntastic!

Gus came into the world of Faith through baptism at St Casimir’s Roman Catholic Church in Elmira New York in 1938. He grew up as part of a large extended Polish Catholic family and met his love and life partner, Arelyn Nelson in high school, starting his own Family. Arelyn loves to tell the stories of his happiest moments when his children, and granddaughters Amanda and Lauren were born. Daughters Mary, and Kathy ‘Kory’ Abbitt (Dave-deceased) and son Jim (Heather) learned from their parents the value of education (six college degrees among them!), that success is working hard at something you love, and nothing is more important than family.

Gus taught those lessons by example. He was the first in his family to go to college and he did it on an NROTC scholarship. He served his country as a commissioned officer for three years active duty and 12 years in the Naval Reserves. He loved the Navy but felt a stronger duty to be there for his young family, so began a journey through the corporate world, always finding new and better opportunities to provide for them. But as he climbed the corporate ladder, he rarely missed a play, a game, a graduation or other special moments for his children and grandchildren. Somehow, he also found time to give back to the many communities his family was a part of. Gus was a leader in the civic and church organizations he gave time to, especially the Knights of Columbus, never forgetting his own humble roots.

Though his sense of duty and the responsibilities of family were most important to him, the side of Gus Rogus that most people remember is the outgoing nature of his Friendship. He was never one to say no to a party and wound up being the life or instigator of many. Gus Rogus attained the status of legend in many of the umpteen neighborhoods that his work life took him and his family to. South Jersey, Pittsburgh’s North Hills, and Canfield, Ohio may never be the same. And that’s only three of no less than ten cities in six states the Rogus family called home. In the social scenes of each, Gus was always careful to include all and meet each in his or her own space.

Of course, a key part of any large gathering is frequently the Food. Whether it was fine continental dining in Milano, Italy, searching out the succulent morel mushrooms of Michigan, firing up yet another vat of “steamer” clams in South Jersey, or meticulously toiling over the traditional Polish Christmas Eve repasts, Gus’ delight as chef and/or diner was as evident as the food was delicious. He grew many of his own ingredients in bounteous vegetable gardens, providing produce for neighbors and family (whether they wanted another zucchini or not). And of course, what’s a good meal without wine, so following his father’s winemaking lessons, he bottled gallons of fine merlot and chardonnay.

While he is missed dearly, his family knows that the man who traveled the world, lived for his family, and never met a stranger, is now Faaannntastic again.

The family hopes to have a Celebration of Life memorial for Gus Rogus in the spring, when it is safe to gather again, at Saint Michaels Catholic Church in Canfield, Ohio, where Gus and Arelyn spent most of the last 20 years of his life.