Centennial Hall was filled Sunday for the Celebration of Life for George W. Rogers, a name many Alaskans are familiar with, and many locally know well.
Rogers, who died Oct. 3, 2010, dedicated his life to his family and Alaska, serving as an instrumental figure in its statehood. He was an economic consultant for the Alaska Constitutional Convention and also served as acting secretary during the convention secretary’s absence. He also helped build the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. and advised many state policy makers. He even helped persuade the state legislature to further the University of Alaska’s research in the state’s economy.
Rogers himself was an analyst and a scholar, studying economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his Ph.D. at Harvard University. He went on to write seven books and numerous articles on a variety of Alaska topics like economics, resources, timber, oil, seafood and the Alaska Permanent Fund.
He was on many committees throughout the state, dealing with everything from resources to mental health. A long-time Juneau resident, some of these were local. Plus, he served on Juneau’s council and charter commission in the 1950s, later serving on the Assembly.
Also locally, he designed the Zach Gordon Youth Center as well as two family homes.
He and his wife, Jean, adopted six children, and had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In fact, Rogers’ family life was as much, if not more, celebrated than his state contributions.
“He was entirely wonderful,” his wife told the Empire. “We were really very compatible. It made a wonderful home atmosphere. We never had a bad moment I can think of.”
More than two dozen speakers and musical accompaniments commemorated the man who was such a large part of Alaska’s history. As his daughter, Sidney Fadaoff, put it, this could only be a long program because “it’s hard to sum up his life in less than two hours.”
“My father was a gentleman in every sense of the word,” she said, also adding in her remembrance, “He kept his wit and humor right up until the end.”
Family friend Chuck Cooper opened the ceremony. Shortly after, Sen. Dennis Egan and Rep. Beth Kerttula presented a resolution in his honor that was recently read into the Congressional Record. Egan said Rogers made his home in Juneau but his impact is felt statewide, adding, “George had a passion for sharing his knowledge.”
Many descriptive words were used throughout the ceremony: husband, father, neighbor, scholar, adviser, friend, conversational, kind and generous, just to name a few. However, one of the most comprehensive phrases for Rogers came out in a song by the Juneau Lyric Opera with community vocalists. That phrase was “an economist who amuses.”
Several of Rogers’ relatives and friends fondly remembered his activity in community arts and music as much as economics. He was a familiar part of Perseverance Theatre and the Juneau Lyric Opera, among others. Fadaoff also regaled the crowd with her father’s ad-libbed line when he appeared onscreen in the film “White Fang,” earning him a membership in the Screen Actors Guild.
Pastor Larry Olson of Eagle Wings Community Church, remembered Rogers’ legacy as one of humor as much as wisdom. He recalled some of Rogers’ life lessons in having good values, being passionate about those values, never stop learning and maintaining what’s important.
In fact, several recalled that part of Rogers’ strength was his dislike of intolerance and ill policy workings, something that served him well in his state work.
Many more anecdotes filled the ceremony. Fond memories flowed of everything from his Alaskan history knowledge to his relationship with his wife to his Volkswagen bus. Even his distinctive eyebrows and mustache got mentions.
People spoke of his marriage as a model for couples, as well as his ability to make those around him feel extraordinary.
His grandchild, Greg Rogers, said his grandfather was a source of encouragement and that house was a “treasure trove of memories for us grandchildren.”
His daughter, Shelley Thissen, said Rogers felt Alaska was a good place to make a difference, and it represented a laboratory for his economic studies.
“I will miss my father for every second of every day, but he has left so many legacies,” said Fadaoff.
The story and work of George Rogers isn’t yet finished. Vic Fischer, who worked with Rogers with the Constitutional Convention, announced that Terrance Cole from the University of Alaska Fairbanks will be pursuing more on Rogers’ work during the next year.
• Contact reporter Jonathan Grass at 523-2276 or jonathan.grass@juneauempire.com.
