As the family gets together (the ones that can), Lee will be missed but we all will remember how much he loved his country. So on the fourth watch those fireworks, and remember how much he and mike (dad)loved his country. I will be putting all the little flags out like Lee has done a million times Windy will be helping this yr. What a joy to share.
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Just a couple of words to keep in touch. It is a gift to discover a friend among colleagues. Some colleagues are rememberer, a friend is never forgotten. God Bless, Carlos Diaz Venezuela
my memory of Christmas past the fun we shared and what a fantastic time we had. Lees humor made the ride so much fun, He left us the job of carring on harder without him. But possible because of him.and the memories we have. May God Bless and yes Lee will be at his side making sure it runs
smoothly, I always have this image of him at the gates saying to the new comers what are your goals and what are your ideas on contributions to the
group. makes me laugh.
I have read that Baker Hughes has made a merger yes Lee would love to have been there to help. He loved the times of Company mergers, the challenges, the mental gymnastics of merging two companies. He loved idea of taking two
companies and making a united one. With all the best pieces from each one taken and blended into one. He loved the people aspect of mergers, and I have been told he had a way of never getting upset or even ruffled was a great asset. The funny thing is I bet he really felt that way. Life was just not something to get upset about for him. Anyway, thanks for all the calls and know Lee will be directing from heaven . So if any of you think you hear that funny little laugh bet on it. May God be with you Mart/Ann
My memories are forever and always of my soul mate. The words seem so simple, for the empty hollow hole left in my life. Someone told me to keep that hole and hang on to it but cherrish it as it is a place of rememberance for Lee. Some how that works. I smile
everyday when searching and finding that hole in my heart. I have learned in this short but long time to laugh with the tears. Lee laughed at everything. I have read the stories
and rememberances, they give me great comfort. I can laugh with you all and miss him
rejoice in the time with him. Thank ev eryone for all the joy these rememberances bring. Mart
Dear Dad,
Hey it’s Mo. You were the best dad any child could ask for. I am a pretty good judge of that because I have known you my whole life. All of us kids looked up to you so much. You were our tutor in school, our mentor, and the person we came to for advice on life and career paths. You instilled a drive in us, a passion for life, and the desire to be good to others. We are all over-achievers maybe due to the fact that you were always the master of what is the next step. You left shoes for us kids that are to big to be filled. We can only aspire to be as great a human being as you were.
How did you have the strength to do all you did? Did you have a clone, were you a cyborg? Nope, you were just superhuman. You raised five amazing children and I am not saying that just because I am one of them, not to toot my own horn but I am pretty amazing. Between all five of us we make a genius. You had it all: a loving marriage of over 30 years, a family that genuinely cared for each other and a career you loved. Your successes will live on in everything you shared with us, especially your knowledge.
I will hold close to my heart the memories of our time spent just you and me driving down route 66 from Texas to California. Twice!! Sorry you had a daughter that experienced flim flam and could not decide what state she wanted to live in. The time that I lived with you briefly in Houston and each day when you would come home from work we would always press your Blues Brother Movie quote machine. We will always have those famous Rogers moments that resemble the Griswold’s traveling to see Wally World. “Real tomato ketchup Eddie?” ha-ha
You and I were always like frat brothers joking and talking in accents. Your favorite accents of mine are the Hispanic or Russian accents. I miss you calling me pumpkin or boo bear. To others you may have been ordinary but to me you were my hero. You fought off nightmares and the dreaded Freddy Krueger. I will always admire your strength, knowledge, determination, and fearless nature. My heart is truly broken and there is not one day I will not miss you. You were our leader. Each day I say what would dad do? I get up and go to work like a brave soldier with a smile on my face. You were the bravest. I could never do what you did, fighting cancer twice. You never EVER complained and you just went on with life finding something to smile and laugh about.
I hope you are up there micro-managing, having fun with family, friends, and our furry four-legged companions. Make sure you look in on us from time to time. You are gone from this world but will never be absent from our hearts. I love you dad and miss you each day.
Your Boo Bear,
MoMo (Monique)
Special Remembrance of Lee Rogers
• Thanks to Carlos Diaz and Gary Brown for forwarding:
• On Saturday, January 3, 2009 Centrilift lost an employee and many in Human Resources lost a friend and mentor. Leslie ‘Lee’ Rogers passed away after a year long battle with Leukemia. Lee served Centrilift as our Workforce Planner but served in several capacities during his over 5 years with Baker and has left a lasting footprint. Many may not know that Lee contributed to the inception and design of Centrilift’s RAMP program. Lee drew on years of significant experience as a leader in Chevron’s Engineering Development programs. Lee also served Baker Oil Tools as their Director of Organization Development and his leadership and experience at BOT helped craft many of the ideas now being used in our talent management organization. Lee was a hard worker with an obsession to teach and inform others. He had a wealth of experience and knowledge and we all were the beneficiaries whether we know it or not. Lee made sure that we never stopped learning how to improve our processes and our ability to develop our employees. He was an avid learner. In fact, many did not know that Lee actually completed his MBA while working at Baker in 2007.
But if you knew Lee, he was proud of his contribution to Baker Hughes but you also knew how much he loved his family. Lee lived in Claremore, Oklahoma. His wife Mart has been Lee’s spouse for many years and she will tell you they were best friends. They shared many wonderful times together and she admired him greatly. They have raised five (5) wonderful children to have the very same passion for learning and helping others learn. Lee shared himself with everyone he knew; just as he did with his family. He is already missed greatly by many.
If you were not among the fortunate ones who knew Lee personally, take a moment and open the link to see how Lee’s life impacted us all.
http://www.respectance.com/lee_rogers
Lee was my big brother, I am the second in line of four brothers and sisters who loved each other in the way God intended – with all of our hearts. We also have a stepsister (Kathy Bracisco) and a stepbrother (John Hoyt) that we were blessed with. Lee was our North Star shining in the heavens of our lives – his love never wavered, just like the North Star – he was always there for us (even when he was out of the country, as his job so often took him). He was always there with love and advice. I, Linda, my brother Dick, and sister Tina were privileged to see Lee and Ann’s love develop into a marriage made in heaven and heard about usually only in fairytales. Melody and Rhiannon (Lee and Ann’s only grandchild so far), Monique, Les, Chris, and Windy had parents that gave their all to their children, grandchild, brothers and sisters, and most of all to each other. When I remember my brother, Lee, I will remember that, to me, he was the embodiment of honor, courage, integrity, honesty, love of his entire family, and everything that family values really mean; and through everything he had to endure, from surviving colon cancer to fighting like a true warrior for more than a year against the leukemia which finally took his life, his overriding sense of humor never left him. He made sure that his wife and family would never suffer without his financial support, the earmark of family responsibility. Our hearts are truly broken and we will grieve our loss until we are reunited in our Lord (here I must thank my brother, Dick for being the spiritual center of our family and, for me at least, making sure that we were all aiming for the same hereafter). I do know that Lee would agree with something that I have heard often but do not know the author of: “remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all, if you cannot remember me except with tears do not remember me at all”.
When we were all at MD Anderson hospital in Houston on January 3, 2009, thirteen of us held Lee’s, and each other’s, hands, while we waited for Jesus to take Lee’s hand, we prayed the 23rd psalm, and then Ann asked Dick to lead us in prayer. The prayer he chose was from the gospel of Paul, who, when asked what he would like to hear from Jesus when they met again, replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I recited a poem from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings (which was also one of Lee’s favorite books),
I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies
in summers that have been;
Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair.
I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring
that I shall ever see.
For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green.
I sit beside the fire and think
of people long ago,
and people who will see a world
that I shall never know.
But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door.
The voices and returning feet that Lee will be listening for will be his wife and all of his family, including all our aunts, uncles, and cousins, who have been a great comfort in this time. Shortly after this, Jesus, with my mother and father (and stepdad) came to take Lee to heaven where there is no more pain or suffering or sorrow, only light and joy and peace.
Now, before I take up the entire website, there are just a few memories that I want to share. One of the first memories of Lee that I have was at a beach; he ticked me off somehow, so I chucked one of my beach toys at him and missed by a mile. In return, he took aim with his beach bucket (in those days they were made of metal) and hit me square on the forehead and I ended up with 3 or 4 stitches on my forehead (how was I to know that, in later years, he would be the star pitcher on Incline High School’s State Championship baseball team?) I remember my first day of first grade and the brand new dress I had on that made me feel so grown up. Just as we were about to pile into the car, I had to go to the bathroom, and little boys are notorious for leaving the seat up, so when I sat down I fell all the way in the toilet (so much for my grown up new dress). Shortly after that incident, we were all getting home from a trip and, once again, I needed the bathroom badly. Lee thought that it would be funny to trip me on the way down the hall and I fell chin first on the bathroom door threshold (the old-fashioned kind that is raised up) and cracked my chin wide open. I got 17 stitches for that one. Now, lest you think that all Lee gave me was stitches, let me say that throughout our lives 99% of the stitches he gave me were in my side from laughing so hard – Lee could always make anyone laugh (a true talent and a blessing to all who knew him.) Now let me jump ahead to Incline Village where we moved to when I was in 4th grade. All through elementary school we lived across the golf course from our bus stop. Every winter Lee and Dick would spend hours digging a path through the snow on the course so we could get to the bus stop semi-dry. Whenever we all went skiing, Lee would make sure we didn’t meet our end on the black diamond runs. When Lee got his driver’s license, he became our cheerful taxi driver, which, with a brother and 2 sisters involved in extra-curricular activities, was a full time job. I’ll never forget all the away games in the boondocks of Nevada that he drove me and my best friend, Jeanne Cangemi, to (we were both songleaders, and he was on the team) and those awful metal seats in the back of his Jeep. In high school, Lee was a hard act to follow, but we did our best, and he was always there to help with homework that we had trouble with. Then he met Ann, and the rest is, so to speak, history. I never had any children, but he and Ann always let me share theirs (very happily), so I felt like I was a part of their upbringing in a small way. The happy memories go on and on, but for now I will simply say that we love you Lee, and as long as any of your family survives, you will also. You are a part of our hearts and souls; and in God’s good time we will all be together again. I will never say good-bye, but for the time being – au revoir – until we are together again. I love you big brother! Linda Rogers-Knott – January 13, 2009
It was a pleasure to work with Lee over the last two years. Not only was he a professional for whom I had respect, he was also a friend with a genuine interest in others as fellow human beings. Lee kept a sign posted outside his office with the trivia question of the week. I saw the sign as Lee's invitation to everyone to please stop in for a visit to share a story and smile. He understood what was important and really wanted to get to know others. Lee had a lot to teach us and he will be missed.
Lee is one of the finest, most kind hearted, and profoundly influential person that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with. His devotion to his wonderful family is what I admire about him most. He worked endlessly to provide for his family and yet he was always there for Monique, Melody, Les, Chris and Windy. I know he was truly proud of his family and it gleamed on his face when they were all together.
Growing up with divorced parents, it was always heartwarming to be welcomed into such a caring and loving home. In getting to know Lee I am a better man for it. I feel that I was able to absorb some of his wisdom during a few impressionable years for me. Now that I have kids of my own I know that I have been impacted by Lee as a father, and I can only hope to impart half the knowledge and care for them as he did for his family.
To the Rogers family, I am deeply saddened for your loss and my heart goes out to you. All of the Hernandez family is praying for you and hope that in time your hearts will mend. I thank you all for sharing Lee with us and allowing me to learn from such a phenomenal man.
Here are just a few quick snap shot memories that stick out most; Lee’s quick wit, University of Colorado Buffaloes, consoling hugs for Niq-que, superior intelligence, two Packard’s, the man could throw a baseball, motorcycle helmet in one hand black work bag in the other, trivia at dinner, Ford Taurus Wagon with a license plate frame stating “My other car is a Packard”, Rock music, great homework tutor, 49ers Football, holding Ann’s hand while walking anywhere, infectious laugh and smile…
It was at Lee's suggestion and urging that I branched out of Human Resources and went into the computer systems side of HR. We worked together, or rather I for him, while we were at Chevron Overseas Petroteum. He astutely sensed that doing straight HR was not for me, and he was right. My career change, and then ultimately my hiring on with Deloitte Tax, had their roots in that first pivotal HR systems assignment to help Chevron implement a new company-wide HR platform - SAP. I owe Lee a tremedous thank you. Not only for being a mentor, but mostly for tbeing he kind, decent, caring manager he was. When he left Chevron, he made a point of giving each us a going away basket - he wanted to thank us for working for him. I also loved that he was an avid baseball fan, and we traded many stories and books (Man on Spikes, for one). My heart goes out to his family.
My introduction to Lee occurred when he transferred from the Richmond Refinery to the Compensation Group in CCC. For Lee, the timing of his transfer was most inopportune. For me, his arrival in the Chemical Co. was a "Godsend." I say that because our workload at that time was monumental.
In our IN BOX were projects including an overall reorganizaton of the Fertilizer Div including reevaluations of all positions; aquisitions within the Oronite Additives Div. which involved incorporating subunits in France & Japan ( including developing Salary Structures and Job Evaluations for the new additions ); reorganization of the Aromatics & Olefins Divisions in Houston; re-evaluations of Finance positions in the Headquarters organization, etc. Overall our workload was overwhelming.
Lee approached this mountain of work in a calm, professional manner and methodically processed an unbelievable amount of work with high client satisfaction. To be totally honest, I am still amazed that we were able to work our way out of this tremendous workload in an acceptable time frame. Lee's devotion to the job which included many long hours and countless weekends played a hugh part in the effort.
After Lee became the Compensation Manager for Chevron's overseas group, there were many occasions when he worked with my wife Loraine in her assignment in Angola Africa. Salary Surveys, Job Evaluations and development of numerous Salary Structures for multiple Countries were routine business. His involvement with the Angola H.R. organization was invaluable.
After Loraine and I retired, we moved to Texas. Lee subsequently left Chevron and joined Baker Hughes in Oklahoma. Fortunately business trips to Houston provided the chance to get together to share a meal, visit & get caught up on what was happening in our lives. We looked forward to the trips Lee made to Houston and consumsed a good deal of delicous seafood during his visits.
We have nothing but great memories of our Dear Friend Lee Rogers. I know he loved his family dearly and at this sad time, share their sense of loss. We plan to concentrate on all the wonderful memories we shared with Lee and pray his family will be able to do as well. God's blessing to the family and we thank them for sharing this great man with us over the years.
Charles & Loraine Degner
I remember when I was dating Melody, me and Lee would hide in the garage and "work" on his old Packards, even though they already ran great.
Lee was a good man, who treated me like family for the years I was with Melody. By the way he treated his family and interacted with me, I know he inadvertently impacted the way I am as a father.
I have many more good memories of Lee that make me smile when I think about them.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I worked with Lee at Baker Oil Tools for two years. I enjoyed sitting in Lee's office and just talking with him. I would bounce ideas and issues off him and he often had good feedback for me and would help me to see more than just three sides of the issue! He had had great work experiences that translated into my world and was always willing to take a few minutes for me.
I loved to hear him laugh and he was really good in front of an audience. He could also diffuse tense situations. Lee was a very nice man. He loved his family and was fully dedicated to his job. I know his family and friends will miss him and I feel that he enriched my life. My prayers are with Lee's family at this time of their sorrow. God bless you all.
I worked on Lee's staff his last job at Chevron, the year before the Texaco merger. Lee was a great leader and a great person just to be around. He always had time for you and met you with a smile. We were all so sad to see him leave Chevron, and after he left, he wanted to keep in touch, so I would set up lunches and he'd come to San Ramon and meet us at Uncle Yu's for a big bowl of his favorite soup. He was greatly admired within the Chevron community, and since sending out the sad news about his passing, I have received many notes from Chevron folks. Some of the sentiments were about the integrity with which he worked, what a good friend he was, and how much he will be missed. My sincerest sympathy goes out to you, and I will say a prayer during the service on Saturday.
I have fond memories of Lee. When he and the family lived in California, Lee would always help out with school projects, plan fun activities with the children, and attend to their needs. He was like a ray of sunshine, bringing cheer to the room with his smile. He was very knowledgable and would teach the children things in a fun, playful way. We will all miss Lee, but we have many pleasant memories.
I had the pleasure of working with Lee during his days at Chevron Chemical. He was the epitome of a brilliant manager, an interesting friend and a kind, caring human being. He was smart and witty and cared about everything that he was involved with. He always had the time to be pleasant and had the patience of an angel. His strong moral character and ethics allowed him to be perceived as a true leader, unlike so many others he unfortunately had to deal with at Chevron. I am privileged to have known him and always felt sorry for Chevron that they couldn't figure out how to hang on to such a remarkable manager. I only knew Lee in the work environment, but can say that he was admired and respected by all of us who had a chance to work with him. Thanks to his family for sharing him with us... he will be missed but always remembered.
I have lots of great memories of Lee but my favorite has been watching Lee come alive when he was able to help others learn something new. From the trivia quiz on the board outside his office to the unending knowledge of the most interesting facts (that none of us had ever heard of), Lee seemed to have a wealth of knowledge and a true desire to help others learn. He used his knowledge to help him build relationships with those around him. And In those relationships there was never a doubt how much he cared about us. Within the first few days of working for Lee I learned about his baseball glory days and was amazed when he was able to give me pointers on helping my own son during his HS Baseball days. Lee was genuinely interested in me and my son's baseball. That was his nature with us who worked with him. In my 30+ working years I can remember only a few who could match Lee's gentleness, kindness and courtesy towards others. Lee was a kind gentleman and a dear man. We all miss Lee already and in just a few days there are things that we (his Centrilift team) would have been calling him about - because we know he loved to share of himself and what he had learned. To you Mart and your family; we all share in your sorrow but celebrate Lee's life. We are the better for knowing him.
I worked with Lee at Chevron at the beginning of my career in Human Resources. Lee was a wonderful role model, inspring mentor and lively and fun manager. I distinctly remember him stopping by my office after a long trip to Kazakstan, crossing one cowboy boot over his knee and telling me about his trip, talking HR philosophy and listening to what I had been up to. He really took time with people - for me, he was really interested in what I wanted to do with my career and helping me get there. I will always remember that. He was so well grounded in what was important in life and always had stories about his family. I also remember his fondness for Uncle Yu's restaurant...I'm sure most of his Chevron colleagues spent at least one lunch with him over a bowl of Uncle Yu's sweet and sour soup!
I was so saddened by the news. My thoughts and prayers are with Lee and his family.
Lee was my father-inlaw. In addition to our common interests in history, we shared a great love for rock music. In the nearly 12 years I have been an addition to his family, we have rocked harder than any inlaws I've ever met! We have been to many shows and have shared the mutual experience of seeing our heros grace the stage countless times. Of all the shows we attended, the 2000 reunion of Black Sabbath is my fondest memory of Lee. I remember how excited he was when mel and I confirmed that we had purchased great floor seats. The day of the show he kept calling to make sure everthing was status quo, fearing some unforseen delay, or even the possibility of the dreaded CANCELLATION. No delays occurred, and we arrived in time for the performance. We both disregarded the intolerable opening act, Linkin Park. Who were they to open for the mighty Black Sabbath? Following Linkin Park, the late great Pantera came on and blew us away! Lee and I both regard Pantera amongst the finest in the heavy metal heirachy. To see Lee banging his fist and shouting might have shocked some of the people at work, but it was a sight I embraced. Lastly, the mighty Black Sabbath hit the stage. Lee and I agreed, this reunion was something we only hoped for, and it had become a reality. After the show, Lee, Mel and myself were reeling from the phenominal performance. This concert was as special to Lee as it was to me, and I am thankful to have shared it with such an extrordinary person. Lee was as selfless a human being as I have ever met. Men of his calibre are rare, and it pains me deeply that our lives will always come up short from what they could be, if Lee were only here.
I met The Rogers Family my sophomore year at J.L. McCullough HS in The Woodlands, TX. I remember always going over to Monique's house to hang out with her family. I loved being with The Roger's family. Mr. Rogers, was always so happy, I can't ever remember him being angry or sad about anything. Always happy-go-lucky. It was wonderful that The Roger's home and hearts were always open.
My heart and prayers go out to the Roger's Family.
Also, my parents, George & Barbara Thoreson of The Woodlands, TX send their thoughts and prayers to The Roger's Family.
A great big hug to all of you from all of us.
Cindy Thoreson Biasotti & family
I worked with Lee at Chevron around the time of the merger with Texaco. My office was close to Lee's and I always enjoyed his infectious laugh. He was a pleasure to work with and had a fabulous concept of what a global company should be. I was so honored when Lee wanted this picture of me and two Papua New Guinea men hung by his office and then, somehow, the picture went with him when he left Chevron. Lee was a great person, a real person. It did not matter what your level was as he was interested in you and in talking with you. The last time I saw Lee he was already working at Baker Hughes and he was very happy. Lee is someone that you don't forget. I hope that people's memories and thoughts will be a comfort to his family, which I know was so very important to him. Lee will be missed by many, including me.
My dad loved the Papua New Guinea picture so much it hangs in the sitting room off my parents master bedroom.
I had the opportunity to work with Lee on the Workforce Planning Team at Baker Hughes during 2008. His knowledge, expertise and insight was truly appreciated and repected. He helped the team advance greatly over the year. While he was not able to join us in person, he was always with us by phone and quick with input.
Lee's family is in my prayers at this time.
thank you - Amy Thompson, Baker Hughes
My memory of Lee…I first met Lee while serving on a Baker Hughes Staffing Team in 2004. If I’d have known then he was going to be my future boss, I would probably have tried to make a better impression. In 2006 Lee joined BOT as the Director of Organizational Development and became my new boss. I was working as a Staffing Specialist at that time but desperately wanted an opportunity to become part of the newly created Career Development Team. I expressed my interest in the role before Lee’s arrival but lacked the experience to be considered. One by one, I watched each opening fill. About a year later another opportunity came available on the team. Lee’s belief in my talents and abilities gave me the courage to apply for the opening. I was delightfully shocked to find a few weeks later that I’d been selected for the position based on Lee’s recommendation. My dream position! That opportunity has impacted my career in ways I never imagined and I have Lee to thank for it.
I could never repay Lee for the knowledge, skills and confidence he gave to me over the years. Lee really invested in me as an employee and as a friend and I’ll be eternally grateful for all the coaching and guidance he provided. I can only imagine how many lives Lee has positively impacted over his lifetime. Lee gave so much and asked for so little in return but what he may not have realized is how much respect and trust he earned during his lifetime.
Those who were fortunate enough to work for or with Lee, know he is a real joy in the workplace. Lee is not only one of the most intelligent and knowledgeable persons I’ve worked with and for but he is also one of the most humorous as well. He never took himself too seriously. Lee really knows the value of supporting and encouraging a fun, humor and laughter filled work environment. We worked hard as a team but had a ton of fun doing it. Those fun memories will stick with me for a lifetime and if I ever manage a team myself, I’ll encourage the same type of work environment. While Lee has a lifetime of accomplishments for which to be proud, I think his real legacy will be the joy and laughter he brought to others.
I have so many positive memories of Lee that it is difficult to capture them all here. My hope is that Lee knows how important he was to so many people and that the memory of him and what he stood for will not be forgotten.
My heart breaks for Lee’s closest family and friends! Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers!
I worked for Lee when he was L & D manager for Baker Oil Tools, and have many many fond memories of him, but one of my abiding memories is when he came over for a visit to Scotland and seemed to take to all our traditions like a duck to water. He ate Curry Sauce and "Fries" a real Scottish delicacy (NOT!!) and we visited castles and distillaries and Lee was the most entertaining company on the bus, he had us all in stitches on a long and windy journey. Our last night together we had a great meal He was like a real Scotsman and could say "Bloody" like a real Brit, though not sure how good his legs would have looked in a kilt!. He was aGentleman in every sense of the word and I was priveleged not only to have worked for him but for just knowing him.
My thoughts are with you all.
I remember when Melody and I were in high school, Lee took us to see Aerosmith in Houston. It was an awesome concert and I think he must have been a saint to put up with 2 teenage girls at a concert!
I also remember Melody getting him one of those Magic Eye picture things that no one can see. It was a picture of the 49er's logo, and Melody stared at it forever. I'm not sure if she ever really saw the picture, but Lee looked at it for like 2 seconds, and was like, Cool, 49ers!
The memory that has been sticking with me these past few days was a Christmas Party Mr & Mrs Rogers threw for all of us kids. We must have been in first or second grade. It was at the house on Vineyard in Novato, CA. We tried for what seemed like forever to break open the pinata, which was a chimney with Santa on top I believe, and it wouldn't budge. Finally Mr Rogers took a swing at it. Still nothing. Frustrated he grabbed a hand saw and just started hacking away at it. Halfway through a smile started to creep across his face and he started to laugh. I thought he was laughing cause it looked like he was sawing through a chimney. But over the next 8 years of spending time with the family and hanging out at their house I learned it wasn't just that the pinata incident was funny. Mr Rogers seemed to make it a point to laugh at some point everyday. Which now I have seen his children tend to do the same thing. So now I am going to make it a point to find something to make me laugh everyday and when I do I will think fondly upon him. He was a great man and a tremendous father. This is a loss that will stay with me as well as his lesson of laughter.
My heart goes out to all of you and I wish I could be there to give each and every one of you a bug hug...
xoxo Katie
melody rogers-cornish
15 years agoOn behalf of my family, I would like to say thank you to everyone at Baker Hughes for their support, kindness, and for sharing their memories of Lee.