Ian Henry Rogers

1933 - 2021

ROGERS, Ian Henry Ian Henry Rogers (Hal) was born in Aghavilly, Northern Ireland on April 8, 1933 and died on August 24, 2021 in Sidney, B.C. He grew up in various parishes, as his father was a Church of Ireland Rector. Hal spent many happy hours roaming the Irish countryside with his dog, Barney. After attending the Armagh Royal School, he studied chemistry at Queens University Belfast before immigrating to Canada in 1957 to pursue a master's degree at UBC. He fell in love with Canada and with Ann Thrasher whom he met at an international students' tea on campus. After their marriage in 1959, they moved to Trail, B.C. and then Shelton, Washington where they enjoyed camping, hiking and fishing. They returned to Vancouver with two young daughters in tow so that Hal could pursue his PhD in organic chemistry. The youngest daughter was born in Vancouver during this time. Hal effortlessly balanced family life with a fulfilling career working at the Forests Products Lab at UBC and then Fisheries and Oceans in West Vancouver, Burlington, Ontario and Sidney, B.C. He always made time for his children and would come home from work in time to chase them around the house and invent other games. They were the only children on the block with log ends for "log rolling" around the backyard. They were also likely the only children in their Point Grey neighbourhood to spend evenings by the fireside hearing stories about the Irish giant Fin M'Coul. Hal, a natural athlete, enjoyed cricket, field hockey, golf and rugby in which he excelled, playing for Queens and UBC. Music was a lifelong passion. His choral singing began as a boy soprano in his father's church. He sang in many choirs during his life including the Vancouver City Singers, the Peninsula singers and his church choir. He sang with his three daughters as a quartet. Hal had an eclectic taste in music and could be counted on to select an entirely inappropriate musical background for a dinner party such as a pipe band or the Mississippi calliope. He couldn't waltz, but he could two-step and he and Ann loved Scottish Country Dancing. In retirement, he spent hours in his garden producing an abundance of fruits and vegetables. Hal and Ann travelled extensively internationally, and experienced a series of hilarious mishaps that were told and retold around the family dinner table. Hal was a gentle man with a gift for brevity of conversation and unexpected one-liners. In his later years, he suffered from Alzheimer's which he bore with dignity and grace. His family is profoundly grateful for the loving care he received from Sidney Seniors Care and the staff in the Extended Care Unit at Saanich Peninsula Hospital. Remembering him, with love, are wife Ann, daughters Elizabeth (Jim), Emily (Jason), Julia; grandchildren Tamsin and Ciaran; dear sisters Rosemary and Deirdre (David) and sister-in-law Sarah and many cherished nieces, nephews and long-time friends. A service of remembrance will be held at 2:00 pm on September 18, 2021 at Saanich Peninsula Presbyterian Church, 9296 E Saanich Rd, North Saanich, B.C. For further information please contact the family. In memory of Hal, donations can be given to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation.