Theodore Rogol

THEODORE ROGOL

89, of 71 Spruce Street, Seymour, died on Saturday, September 22, at Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT. Born June 23, 1918, Teddy was the youngest of 6 children of the late Mayer and Bertha (Gans) Rogol, one of two born in this country to which they had immigrated from Vilna in Lithuania. He was the devoted husband of the late Alice Gitlavitz Rogol, whom he married in 1948. Teddy and Alice were the beloved parents of three children, Charles, married to Heidi, of East Brunswick, NJ, Brian, married to Rhonna, of Stamford, CT, and Debra, married to Raphael, of Natick, MA. His brothers and sisters were the late Dr. Oscar Rogol, Dr. Louis Rogol, Anna Bach, Rebecca Gandelman and George Rogol and he is survived by two sisters in law, Dorothy Gitlavitz and Mollie Epstein. He was an incredibly dedicated and involved Poppy and Grampa to his 7 grandchildren who adored him, Marc and Lysa Rogol, Alissa, Joshua and Dane Rogol, and Rebecca and Alex Krasa. Moreover, Teddy was universally acknowledged as the patriarch extraordinaire of the entire extended Rogol clan, and the people in their lives. So, in addition to the immediate family, there are numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends who loved him dearly and will miss him, his friendship and his family leadership terribly. His niece, Bernice Dietz and his longtime friend Mary Finkel, cared for him tenderly and tirelessly throughout his prolonged illness and he loved them both very much.

A lifelong resident of Seymour and graduate of Seymour High School, Teddy served in the armed forces during WWII and, upon his return, became active in the Seymour Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and on both the local and state levels of the Jewish War Veterans, holding the office of Adjutant. After the war, he resumed his role as proprietor, and ultimately owner of Mayer Rogol clothing store in downtown Seymour, which his father had founded in 1910. Both Ted and the store became renowned landmarks of Seymour's business and social life, with the store serving both as a source of outstanding personal service and quality merchandise and as a hub for town residents to congregate and benefit from Teddy's endless cheerful hospitality and generous, down-to-earth advice.

Teddy was a founder and longtime board member of the Beth Israel Synagogue Center of Derby, CT until it merged with Congregation Or Shalom in Orange, CT, where he immediately became active on many areas of religious life, coordinating the weekday morning minyan and assisting in running High Holiday services. In 2002, Or Shalom presented Ted with the prestigious Guardian of Light Award and just last summer he proudly celebrated the 75th anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah there.

A committed volunteer to many causes, Teddy also found time to serve as Treasurer, for many years, of the Seymour Chapter of the Lions Club and the Chairman of the Babette and Oscar Rogol and Alice G. Rogol Memorial Scholarship Funds of the New Haven Foundation, benefiting outstanding graduates of Seymour High School. He was an auxiliary policeman in the Seymour Police Force and was honored as Grand Marshall of downtown Seymour holiday parades.

Funeral Services will be held at Congregation Or Shalom, 205 Old Grassy Hill Rd., Orange SUNDAY afternoon (TODAY) at 1:30pm with Internment Services to follow in the Beth Israel Cemetery, Derby-Milford Rd., Orange. Memorial contributions may be sent to Congregation Or Shalom, Ted Rogol Memorial Fund. A period of mourning (shiva) will be observed at 113 Ansonia Rd., Woodbridge following the service and then Monday and Tuesday at 71 Spruce St., Seymour, 2:30-5:00pm and 6:30-9:00pm. Funeral arrangements, in care of the Robert E. Shure Funeral Home, New Haven (203-562-8244).