SILVER SPRING, MD.—Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. James “Jim” E. Rogers, DVM, MS, passed away from this earthly life on March 9, 2018.
A devoted father, grandfather and friend to many, Maj. Rogers was born in Tampa, Fla., on October 2, 1939, to Lena Keene Rogers and James Henry Rogers. Over the course of his life, James became known as simply Jim.
He graduated from Hillsborough High in Tampa. He then went on to the University of Florida and then to Auburn University where he got his doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1965 and entered the U.S. Air Force the same year. In 1967, he obtained his master’s in veterinary pathology at Michigan State University.
Jim served in a variety of positions in and outside of the U.S. Some positions of note were his postings in Thailand during the Vietnam conflict, Skylab Research Team in Texas, and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Jim married his first wife, Dorothy Heyward in 1963. They had 2 daughters, Allison Rogers (Armstrong) and Katherine Rogers. They were a mobile family that lived in a variety of states. His passion at this time in his life was boating and fixing up engines in cars and boats. Divorced after 13 years of marriage, he later re-connected with a high school relationship who turned out to be the love of his life: Patricia Paulson, and married her in 1983.
In 1984 after 20 years of service, Jim retired from the U.S. Air Force. Jim applied for and received advanced veterinary training at the Animal Medical Center in New York City prior to starting his business. He opened a feline-specific veterinary clinic in the bottom half of his home in Silver Spring, Md. As his older daughter went through the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, he went through advanced training at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, and opened a thriving business of 30 years duration known as A Cat Practice.
In 2009 tragedy struck and he lost first younger daughter Katherine (Kathy) at 41, his good friend Rob Roy a few months later, and at the end of the year, his wife Patricia lost her battle to cancer just after their 23rd anniversary. His deep spiritual beliefs were the foundation that kept him afloat. He held to his beliefs in the wisdom of the Lord and he weathered the storm of grief and despair. He took solace in retreating to Reedville, where he would go to boat, fish and relax.
On a stormy weekend in Maryland in March 2018 when all power was out, Jim experienced pain and as a man of medicine knew that he needed to get to the hospital. Due to the nature of the storm, he drove himself to the hospital and was admitted to Walter Reed Medical Center, where despite excellent medical care and a courageous fight of six days, he went to find his place with the Lord the evening of March 9.
He leaves behind his daughter Allison Rogers (Armstrong), her husband, Tim Armstrong, and their three sons, Cody, Levi, and James; and his pre-deceased daughter Katherine’s son, Sean Barse.
Jim will be remembered for his kindness, generosity and his love of family, God, country and kitties. He will be buried with a full honors funeral service at the Arlington National Cemetery at 9 a.m. on February 20, 2019.
