Les Rogell

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Les Rogell who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Les was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Les knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

Les was born on September 5, 1939 at Physicians Hospital in Queens NY. His parents were Ernest and Marguaritte Rogell. Les was raised in Mt Kisco, NY. Even as a youngster, Les learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Les was able to put his natural abilities to work. He was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. Les was raised with One sibling. He had one older sister, Janine who went by "J". Les had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Les, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.

Les's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, Les enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Les took part in baseball. In his spare time he liked building models. Les' memorable achievements included being a standout pitcher in baseball.

In school, Les was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would eagerly complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Les was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. Les’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” He graduated from Fox Lane High School in 1956. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Les also played for the school baseball team.

Les attended the University of Miami on a baseball scholarship, and attended for one year before returning home to run the family business. His favorite courses were radio and television. Les was a pitcher on the Miami Hurricanes baseball team.

Les was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Les was a member of a group, his interaction worked to keep the others grounded. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Les came to expect his high standards of performance. While growing up, one of his best friends was Bruce Anderson, who he stayed in touch with to this day. Later in life, he became friends with Tommy Hutton, Gus Schwartz, Don Schafer, Mark Feldmesser, Marvin Baron, Bernie Fishman, Doug Grossman, Freddy Silverman, Lou Krone, Jack Langbart.

An objective and conscientious individual, Les reveled in the security of his family. One of Les’s most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

Les was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Les would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. Les was blessed with two children and three step children, two sons, Eric and Ron, and three step daughters, Lisa, Dayna and Jill. They were also blessed with four grandchildren, Alex, Matthew, Corey and Jason.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Les was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Les was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Les upheld his standards. His primary occupation was vice president/general manager in retail. He was employed for 29 years by Bloomingdales. Les was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Les approached his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, he appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were golf and sports. Les was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Les to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. In high school, Les played baseball. In his college years, Les continued to stay active by playing baseball. Recreational sports included racquetball and golf. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball, football and golf.

Being generous with his time and energy, Les liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. He was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. His desire to uphold traditions and his ability to take charge of any type of project made him a tremendous asset. In college, Les joined the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Les used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that he made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Les had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included traveling anywhere with Pat as long as they were together.

Les was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. Two of Les’s favorites were Bennie the cat, and Sami the dog.

When Les retired from Bloomingdales in 1989, he was well prepared. He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. His new life involved relocating to Palm Beach Gardens, FL. In retirement, he found new pleasure in playing golf regularly, starting several small businesses and working at Bank of America. In many ways, Les loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Les passed away on April 9, 2016 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Palm Beach, FL. Les fought a brave battle against cancer. He is survived by his wife Pat; his children Eric, Ron, Lisa, Dayna, and Jill; his grandchildren Alex, Matthew, Corey and Jason. Services were held at IJ Morris at Star of David Cemetery of the Palm Beaches. Les was cremated.

All who knew him would agree that Les was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Les Rogell did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.