Obituary of Edward Rogers

Edward Samuel (Ted) Rogers, O.C. Ted Rogers passed away peacefully at his home in Toronto just after midnight on December 2nd, 2008 with close family at his side. Known for his tenacity and relentless drive in business, Mr. Rogers fought a long and often arduous personal battle with heart disease while building one of Canada's largest corporations and fulfilling his vow to make Rogers Communications Inc. a blue-chip company. He leaves his wife of 45 years, Loretta Anne (Robinson); four children: Lisa Anne, Edward Samuel III (Suzanne), Melinda Mary (Eric) and Martha Loretta; four grandchildren: Chloe Alexandra Velma, Edward Samuel IV and Jack Robinson Miklos Rogers and Zachary Joseph Hixon; his sister Ann Graham and her son Rafe Calderisi; and Tasha Graham. Predeceased by his father, Edward Samuel Rogers Sr., the inventor of the plug-in radio, his mother, Velma Taylor Rogers Graham, his "second father" John Webb Graham, and his in-laws, Lord and Lady Martonmere, and their son, Richard. He will be missed by so many loving relatives in the extended Rogers, Taylor and Robinson families and many, many friends and business associates. The family wishes to give a special thank you to Dr. Bernie Gosevitz, who not only provided tremendous care to Ted Rogers over the past 30 years but was also a great friend to him. Ted Rogers was born on May 27, 1933 during the depths of the Great Depression. He was only 5 years old when his father died suddenly with so much unfinished business, including control of Canada's largest radio manufacturing business and biggest radio station, CFRB, with the call letters short for Canada's First Rogers Batteryless. Beginning at age 7, after all components of the family business were sold or shuttered, his mother instilled in him a lifelong emotional drive to get the Rogers name back into communications. Honoring his father's legacy, he started the new Rogers company in 1960 when he borrowed $85,000 to buy the country's first FM radio station CHFI. Today Rogers Communications Inc. owns Canada's largest wireless telecommunications company, the country's largest cable company, the Toronto Blue Jays and Rogers Centre (formerly the SkyDome), 52 radio stations, several television properties including five CityTV outlets, Rogers Sportsnet, the Shopping Channel and the OMNI multicultural stations, and more than 70 consumer and trade magazines. Along the way, Ted Rogers was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1990, a crowning achievement for someone so proud of his homeland. He was recognized through numerous honours by universities, business groups and other organizations across North America. In addition to his outstanding business achievements, Ted Rogers was also a great philanthropist. Condolences may be forwarded to the family through a special website at www.tedrogerstribute.ca. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Loretta Anne Rogers Critical Care Centre at the Toronto Western Hospital www.tgwhf-uhn.ca or 416-340-4430 or 416-340-3088. Friends may pay respects at GRACE CHURCH ON-THE-HILL, 300 Lonsdale Road between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Monday, December 8th. A funeral will be held in THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. JAMES, 65 Church Street on Tuesday, December 9th, at 11 a.m. A private interment will be held at a later date.