Joseph F. Rogers, Jr.

HAVERHILL - Joseph F. Rogers, Jr. of Haverhill, MA, passed away on February 25, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. He was 95.

Born on May 6, 1929, to the late Joseph F. Rogers, Sr. and Catherine A. Crowley, Joe was raised in Cambridge where he attended Longfellow Elementary School and Cambridge High and Latin School. His mother died when he was just 13, after which he and his dad relied heavily on his grandparents, Manuel and Augusta Rogers, who had moved to Cambridge from the Azores, Portugal.

Joe was a mischievous, outgoing, street-smart and fun-loving kid. He could entertain us for hours telling stories of city life in the 1930s and ‘40s, hopping trolley cars, swimming in the Charles River, playing pranks with his friends, and serving as an air raid warden during WWII. As a teen he worked at the A&P market in Charlestown and told entertaining stories about delivering groceries to the warden’s wife at the Charlestown State Prison. He ran track and played basketball, stick ball, and baseball. He was the visiting team bat boy for the Boston Braves and loved sharing memories of getting a ride home from Jim Tobin and receiving the no hit/no run game ball from Phil Masi. A lifelong Boston sports fan, he faithfully cheered on his teams, watching anything with a ball, bat, or stick in it, right up until the end. Especially his beloved Boston Celtics.

From 1951 to 1952, Joe served as an airman first class in US Air Force during the Korean War. He was stationed out of Loring Airforce Base in Limestone, ME, and Alexandria AFB in LA.  

In November 1955 Joe married his beloved wife, the late Helen M. (Lowry) Rogers at St. Joseph’s Church in Union Square, Somerville. He first saw her working in the window of Lordy’s Restaurant in Inman Square; he would smile, and she would smile back. They eventually met while out dancing at Inman Social Club in East Cambridge. Joe and Helen were happily married for nearly 67 years and raised 3 children together: Shawn Rogers of Methuen, MA; Stacey (Rogers) Ives of Ithaca, NY; and Stephanie Rogers of Charlestown, MA. 

A gregarious storyteller, Joe’s favorite saying was “If you love people, they’ll love you back. And I love people.” This led to a long and successful career in sales, primarily in the men’s apparel business. As newlyweds, Joe and Helen moved to Syracuse, NY, for his new job at Hewes & Potter Neckwear, followed by a stint at Esquire Socks and Hylo Sportswear. In 1969 the family moved to Andover, MA, and he joined Mighty Mac of Gloucester, where he made lifelong friends and had a ton of fun (a special memory included the shooting a Life Magazine ad campaign with famed photographer Gordon Parks). As he said, “I loved what I did. I loved people and I worked like hell. I fell into a basket of gold when I landed at Mighty Mac.”  From there, Joe managed sales regions for Zero King and Powderhorn Mountaineering (both divisions of B.W. Harris Manufacturing) before ultimately landing at Tropical Garment Manufacturing Co. where he sold private label garments to major retailers like Macy’s, Jordan Marsh, and the TJX Companies. Again, Joe made lifelong friendships up and down the eastern seaboard that last long after retirement. 

Outside of work, Joe cherished time with his loving wife and best friend Helen, hosting dinner parties, enjoying block parties, playing cards and going dancing. They loved adventures by cruise ship and by car, and taking the kids on summer vacations to the Cape. Once their children were grown, they sold the family home in Andover and moved to Brickett Hill in Haverhill, MA, where they enjoyed a long retirement and made lots more friends. When he lost his beloved Helen in 2022, Joe moved to the nearby Wingate Residences of Haverhill where he spent his last few years. True to form, he made tons of friends among residents and caregivers alike and was always the life of the party. Joe will forever be remembered for his sharp wit, sense of humor, boisterous laugh, and love of life. 

Besides his children, Joe leaves behind his brother Paul Rogers and his wife Karen of Moreno Valley, CA; daughter-in-law Nancy Rogers and grandchildren Stephen and Lauren Rogers of Methuen; son-in-law Jeff Ives and grandchildren Whitman, Zachary, Sam, Ellie, Cassie and Abby Ives of Ithaca, NY, including his first great-grandson Jameson Rogers Ives. Joe was predeceased by his brother John W. Rogers of Peabody, MA, and his stepmother Hedwig T. (Chmielewski) Rogers of Somerville, MA.  

Joe’s immediate family wishes to thank his extended family at Wingate Residence at Haverhill and the compassionate caregivers at Holy Family Hospital and Aspen Hill Rehabilitation and Health Center for their devotion and care.

Graveside Services will be held on Friday, March 7, in Spring Grove Cemetery, 5 Spring Grove Road, Andover, MA at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation at www.nba.com/celtics/community. Arrangements by Driscoll Funeral Home, Haverhill. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com.