Peter M. Rogers Jr.

Peter Rogers Obituary

Peter M. Rogers, Jr.

AGE: 65 • Lakewood

Peter M. Rogers, Jr., 65, of Lakewood, died Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012 at Care One in Jackson, surrounded by family and friends. Prior to retiring to Lakewood three years ago, Pete had been a lifelong resident of Point Pleasant Beach. He was widely known throughout the area from his work as a self-employed commercial window cleaner and a driver for Briggs Taxi. His sense of humor, wide ranging knowledge of all things New Jersey and good nature were qualities that endeared him to many.

The son of the late Peter and Lois Rogers, he is survived by his sister, Lois Rogers, with whom he lived; his brother, Mark, and sister-in-law, Katherin of Newark, Del.; five nephews and nieces, cousins, uncles, aunts and a host of friends.

All are welcome to attend his Memorial Mass Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church, Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson. Contributions can be made in Pete's name to the Ocean Pet Caring Foundation at www.oceanpetcaring.org or to O.P.C.F., PO Box 233, Lakewood, NJ 08701.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Asbury Park Press on Feb. 19, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Peter Rogers

6 Entries

Shannon Mullen

March 10, 2012

I first met Pete when I was 15 and started working as a busboy at Perkin's Pancake House in Point Pleasant Beach, where Pete washed the windows and floors. Let me stop right there for a moment. If you think Pete's job was easy, think again. The Apostolou family, which owned Perkin's, were extremely hard-working Greeks who ran what had to be the cleanest restaurant at the Shore. Those windows had better sparkle, and Mrs. A. had better be able to see her reflection in the shine of those floors, or you'd be shown the door. I doubt Pete would have remembered me from those years at Perkin's (where I met my future wife, Eileen, a waitress) but I remembered him. Years later, after Lois and I became friends through the Press, she introduced me to her brother, Pete, whom I recognized immediately. As I've said to Lois, one of the things that most impressed me about Pete was that he was a master of the lost art of conversation. Pete could strike up a conversation with anybody, and it was rarely idle chit-chat. Pete was a font of knowledge about any number of subjects, including sports, history, science, movies and wildlife, among many others. But he wasn't a know-it-all who lorded his smarts over you; he was a humble, interesting fellow. While I'm saddened by Pete's passing, I'm heartened by how happy his final years were living with Lois. They made a great team, and were a delight to be around. Sibling love is a rarity today - it seems like most people are estranged with someone in their family - but Pete and Lois were blessed in this regard.

Allen Cleirbaut

March 1, 2012

I have many memories of Peter, since we could be considered best friends during the period of 1973 to 1980. The reason for only those years is that I moved from Ocean County NJ to North Jersey for job considerations and it became more difficult as I became more involved with life in the area.
I first met Pete in the student center of Ocean County College, 1973. He just started seeing one of my classmates and was on a visit to see her. In talking with Pete, we discovered that I graduated high school with someone he had been engaged to. We also discovered that we had many other things in common, one of which was sports, particularly football. We went to many a football game in those years, also track meets, and wrestling matches. One rainy weekend, we had already gone to see tree games and were about to make it a fourth but gave up on that idea as there was a hurricane in process and we could hardly see the road. The reason we even bothered is because we listened to the local sports on the radio and the game had not yet been cancelled. Talk about a stubborn and desperate pair.
My niece ran track in those days too and we went to just about every meet she was in plus so many more. Since we were such fixtures at the meets the coach put us to work measuring or timing events. The girls had made up a pair of Tees for us that said “Uncle Al” for me, and “Friend, Pete” for him.
Life was not uneventful for us. We did the sports thing, Bible studies, and hung out with that crowd, we even worked together at times. Pete would work at anything if it were offered. He had his own cleaning service, was a bouncer at one of the more popular local clubs for young people, did carpentry, and even painted…when he had to. When he had the cleaning business, some of the accounts were the very places we hung out at. One, in particular, was the place where Pete also was a bouncer. When the place would close up at around 3 am, Pete would break out his equipment and we'd start cleaning. This was NOT a pleasant job after a thousand people had spent their ‘happy' hours, but Pete never complained and joked about it frequently.
He came from a very talented family. Lois, his sister, was a local reporter, both print and TV. Mark, his brother, was a professor of English at the University of Delaware. When they were both at the Rogers homestead, we would head over and visit. Mark's fiancé, Kate would be there too, as would Mark's two long time friends, Joe and Sammy. Mr. and Mrs Rogers would always be great hosts and tolerated the noise that was made, and the reward was Mrs. Rogers spaghetti in meat sauce, salad, and a bottle of wine. Followed by the Thanksgiving like “I have to lay down on the floor and open my belt”. It was well worth it.
I want to close this with another Pete story….or two.
“Hollywood comes to Emporia Kansas”.
Pete went to college in Emporia Kansas in the mid 60s. While he was there and was in the town with some friends walking down the main street, a car went by with movie cameras attached to the outside. They were filming a sequence for the movie “In Cold Blood”, with Tom Wilson and Robert Blake. It seems that Pete and friends were captured in the scene for about two movie frames. Pete always joked about that, having a brief “Hollywood” moment.

“Hollywood comes to Toms River and Pt. Pleasant Beach”.
About 1978 or 1979, the movie industry had discovered a home which was located on the shore of the Toms River, a Dutch Colonial, which with some alterations, would look very much like the ‘haunted' home, in the ‘based on truth' novel “The Amityville Horror” (sorry Lois, can't figure how to underline). The movie would be shot at both the Toms River location and in St. Peter's RC Church in Pt. Pleasant. The makers of the film advertised for local talent to be in the movie. Well, guess who went to the interview. They had asked him if he had any previous acting experience and Pete had answered that he had and they asked him “and what was that?”, Pete told them about his two frame stint in the movie “In Cold Blood”. He did get a part, but that was Pete. “What the h..l! All they can say is no”.
Pete. You will be missed by many, especially your family. You were always respectful, helpful, and often late. You were a staunch believer in Jesus and His salvation, and took great interest in researching for the truth. You now know that truth in real time. In my Neanderthal-like understanding of heaven, I can see you and my recently departed brother Gene talking over old times and experiences in sports.
As we all know that God loves you..we do too and will miss you terribly while we await our turn to be in front of the Creator of the universe.

Your friend always....Allen

Sophia Rogers

February 29, 2012

Uncle Pete was a great guy with an awesome knowledge of fossils, rocks and minerals. I will miss him.

Frank Weber

February 29, 2012

I will remember those last few weeks and how Pete showed his family and those in his life how to "leave this world" with dignity & respect. His love for family and friends and in particular for his sister Lois was truly evident and inspiring and I'm certain that Our Lord has a place for him where his soul can now rest with the greatest of joy and in eternal peace.

ETENAL REST GRANT UNTO HIM O LORD AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON HIM. AMEN!

Kathleen Bilancio

February 29, 2012

Lois & family,
May the pain in your hearts soon be filled with fond memories of happy times you spent together as you celebrate a life well lived. May God's grace and peace be with you.

Carole Fierro

February 23, 2012

Pete's kindness, intelligence, and sense of humor brightened all of our social events. Always helpful, always humble. A wonderful guy and a true gentleman!

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