Ted Roggen

1918 - 2022

Ted Roggen
1918-2022
Ted Roggen passed away peacefully on March 4, 2022, after 104 happy years.
He was born in Houston in 1918 to Hyman and Tillie Roggen.
He cheated death many times, including as a three-year-old faced with diphtheria and later as a POW—and a Jewish one, no less—in Nazi-occupied Poland.
But in between, he found his calling in public relations and advertising. He received a full athletic scholarship to Louisiana State University, where he helped manage the football team and studied journalism.
After college, he joined the Army and ultimately became a Captain. Five days after helping the Allies invade Salerno, Italy, the Nazis captured him and kept him as a POW for nearly two years. For his heroism and courage, he received two purple hearts and the bronze star. When reflecting on his service, the ever-witty Ted said, "I got a purple heart, a cluster, and frostbitten feet."
He later began a storied fifty-year career in public relations. After starting out with cold calls, his clients eventually included the Pappas family, Ninfa Laurenzo, and Tony Mandola. He especially loved promoting entertainers. And he warmly welcomed Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, and the Harlem Globetrotters to town when no one else would.
Close friendships brought Ted so much joy. So did writing. The two passions led him to write many letters and two books.
Above all else, Ted relished a 64-year marriage to the love of his life, Sydney—a caring, compassionate, and dynamic soul.
He is survived by his wife; a son; and grandchildren; he was predeceased by his daughter Arlene, his parents, and close friends.
The family wishes to thank many much-loved helpers, notably the Bayou Bend staff.
Donations can be made to the LSU Alumni Association: https://www.lsutaf.org/and Congregation Emanu El: https://www.emanuelhouston.org/
Ted's extraordinary life will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on March 6 at Emanu El Memorial Park. And as Ted would say, "May you all live to be 104, and the last person you speak to be Ted Roggen."