Richard D. Rogers, Sr., 69, of New Bedford died Wednesday June 2, 2010 at home after a long illness. He was the husband of the late Irene A. (Galego) Rogers and the late Barbara A. (Petrak) Rogers.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Joseph C. and Mary A. (Paiva) Rogers, he lived in New Bedford all his life.
He was a member of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish and its Couples Club.
Mr. Rogers was formerly employed by Aerovox as a journeyman and master electrician for 25 years. He later worked for Chatham Village Foods.
He served in the U. S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Mitscher-DL2 in the North and South Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. He was a life member of the New Bedford Master Electrician Association, having served as President, Vice President, and Director. He was a member of the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School Alumni Association, and served on its Board of Directors for 12 years. He was a former member of the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Chapter 11. He enjoyed building naval warship models and army tanks, with several on display at Fort Taber.
Survivors include a son, Richard D. Rogers, Jr. of Port St. Lucie, Florida; a daughter, Suzanne Sylvia and her husband George of New Bedford; a brother, Kenneth Rogers and his wife Donna of Bradenton, Florida; a sister, Diane McFadden and her husband Rob of Port St. Lucie, Florida; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two aunts, Agnes Ferreira and Mary Paiva; and an uncle, Edmund Rogers.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 9 AM at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Burial with military honors will follow in Rural Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 5-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Fort Taber~Fort Rodman Historical Association, 1000C Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02744. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.