Jan Gareth Rogers

Jan Gareth Rogers, 84, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2025 – reuniting with his beloved Judith. He was born in Colchester, England to Paul Rogers and Jocelyn Wynne Rogers Brubaker. He grew up a proper English boy, attending boarding school, including Dartington Hall where he made friends he still kept up with until his death. He immigrated to the United States when he was 16, joining his mother and brother Piers, living on a cousin’s farm in Monticello. He enjoyed those years, earning money by riding horses and tending cattle. He went to FSU where he met Judith Sadler, who later became his wife. Completing his formal education, he spent time teaching but his real love turned out to be broadcasting, where he put his talents as a salesman and his booming voice to work. He was there when WFSU-TV went on the air. He did sales for and eventually became the General Manager of WONS-AM and WBGM-FM, before moving on to the Phipps Corporation’s WCTV. There he was a salesman before being tapped to start up a television production truck that worked all over the country and in Bermuda and Korea, and then also started the satellite uplink business. He retired to Red Dragon Farm in Gadsden County, where he and Judith spent 20 years enjoying the rural life, mowing grass, gathering pecans and growing vegetables. They moved back to town when Judith’s health required closer access to care. Jan, a devoted Episcopalian married Judith in St. Clement’s Chapel at the Episcopal Church of the Advent in 1961 and attended Advent, St. John’s, and St. Paul’s in Quincy before returning to Advent. He has served as Senior Warden several times and was known as an excellent Lector, using his amazing voice to bring readings from the Bible alive. The last years were fairly quiet. Judith had moved to a memory care facility where Jan visited several times a week, and when she died, he missed her terribly. They were together for 66 years and when she went, a big piece of him went with her. His children surrounded him with love and care – rarely a day went by without a visit from one of them and phone calls daily. Visits and calls from his grandchildren were incredibly special to him and he loved keeping up with everyone on Facebook. We will miss him terribly. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 3rd at 10am at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, 815 Piedmont Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32312. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Advent Church. Dayne Parker of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the Rogers family with arrangements.

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Jan Gareth Rogers

May 7, 1940 - April 9, 2025