Walter I. Rodgers III

Rodgers III, Walter I.
Walter I. Rodgers III of New Milford, CT died peacefully on January 4, 2014. He was born on February 22, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY, the son of Helen Cadmus and Walter I. Rodgers, Jr. Walt spent his adolescent years in Allentown, PA and Rockville Centre, Long Island where he graduated from South Side High School in 1938. He graduated from the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University in 1942 with a BS degree in Applied Economic Science. As a Naval ROTC student at Yale, Walt received a commission as Ensign in the Supply Corps of the regular Navy upon graduation. He served on active duty for five years including two years in the South Pacific during WWII.
After marrying in 1951, Walt and his wife, Margaret "Peggy" Bennett Rodgers, lived in Greenwich Village and later raised their family in Mt. Kisco, NY, Acton, MA, and Wilton, CT. Walt had a dual career in business administration. From 1947-1968 he was with the Bemis Co., a Fortune 500 company engaged in flexible packaging. During his tenure with Bemis he held various positions including Account Executive, Assistant to the President, Plant Manager and Sales Division Manager. In 1968 he resigned from Bemis and began a 22 year career in the real estate field where he had several associations including the William Pitt Co., Previews International, the Homerica Division of Homequity, and Homebuyer's Assistance Corp. He retired in 1990. Since 2002 he served as the Yale Class of 1942 Secretary, writing quarterly notes for the alumni magazine.
Walt will be remembered by his family and friends for his masterful storytelling, delightful humor, and his quiet and gentle nature. He was a true gentleman who imparted wisdom and common sense. Walt was devoted to his family and spent countless days at a family property in upstate New York playing games, singing and enjoying the festivities with those around him. In particular, his Yale days and naval service were of utmost importance and extraordinarily fulfilling life experiences for him. He regaled us on countless occasions with larger than life true stories from these seminal events in his life.
He was predeceased in 2011 by his dear Peggy, his wife of over 60 years, and is survived by four married children: Stephen (and Ann) Rodgers of Brookfield, CT; Janet (and David) Chandler of Dorset, VT; Margaret (and Edward) Lidster of Fletcher, VT; and William (and Christina) Rodgers of Portsmouth, NH. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Kary and Rebecca Rodgers, James and Margaret Chandler, Abigail and Jackson Lidster, and Jack, Andrew and Sam Rodgers. A Celebration of Life ceremony is being planned for the spring. Memorial donations in Walt's memory may be made to the Honor Flight Network (www.honorflight.org) or to the National Geographic Society (https://donate.nationalgeographic.org). Condolences may be shared with the Rodgers family at WIRMBR@aol.com.