Died peacefully on November 22, 2011 in Victoria after an eight year struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He leaves his loving wife of 51 years, Marion (nee Cowley); his three children, Gordon (Gina), Geoffrey and Alison Trembath (Toby); three grandchildren, Chelsea, Brittany and Amelia; niece, Susan and countless colleagues; friends and patients.
Roger was born in Vancouver on February 6, 1928. He received his BA and BSW from UBC and practised group social work until he entered medicine in 1955. He interned at St. Paul’s Hospital and practised as a Family Doctor in Vancouver for twenty five years, emphasizing prevention and an holistic approach to health. Gradually his interests led him into alternative and complementary medicine, especially for cancer patients and the founding with his colleague, Dr. Hal Gunn, of the Centre for Integrated Healing , now InspireHealth, in Vancouver. He opened a satellite office in Sidney in 2001, retiring in 2005. Roger was the grateful recipient of many awards and acknowledgements, culminating in the presentation of the Order of British Columbia in 2001 for “outstanding pioneer work in alternative and complementary medicine.” The Hecht Foundation has established a quarter million dollar prize in his name given biennially to a leader in complementary and alternative medicine. Roger was a loving and devoted son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. Although his medical work was the centrepiece of his life, he enjoyed family camping and hiking, travel, boating and fishing. He was an active member of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in North Saanich, serving as a sidesman and president of the Men’s Club.
A Service of Celebration of Roger’s Life will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Mills Rd. and West Saanich Rd.,North Saanich, on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 2:00 pm. Flowers are gratefully declined. A donation in Roger’s name may be made to InspireHealth, 1330 W 8th Ave., Vancouver, BC, V6H 4A6. Special thanks to the dedicated and caring staff of the second floor of the Central Care Home in Victoria who made such a difficult journey bearable. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
25 Responses
Dear Dr. Marion Rogers & Family,
So very sad to hear of Dr. Rogers passing.
My heartfelt condolences to you and your family.
May he rest in peace.
Regards,
Dina Taddei
Dear Marion, I only learned yesterday from a mutual friend of Roger’s and mine of Roger’s passing. I have been in Palm Springs since mid-October and consequently have not been able to know what is happening at home. I am so sorry to have not been at his service.
Please accept my deepest condolences. He was a wonderful friend, a great companion and a wise and caring doctor. I am especially grateful for the care that he gave my mother over the years. I will always treasure the memories of our school days together, our university years and the numerous fishing trips we did together. We have lost a wonderful person.
Normie
Dear Marion and family,
Nancy and I want to once again offer our heartfelt condolences to you. The church service was dignified and fitting, and it was good to see you. I will always remember Dr. Rogers as a kind gentleman, pioneer, esteemed colleague and friend since we met and collaborated – he succeeded me as president – in the Association of Complementary Physicians of BC. Among other things, he took our concerns and suggestions to the BC Ministry of Health, and assisted in the preparation for the complementary-integrative medicine conference at the University of Victoria. I feel honoured to have known and worked with him during those eventful years.
When the Dr. Rogers Prize for excellence in complementary medicine was first announced, I was happy to nominate another inspirational pioneer in the field, the late Dr. Abram Hoffer, who went on to be a co-winner. I feel very privileged to have known these great men.
Thank you for looking after Dr. Rogers so well (and for the boat trip to a gulf island and supper years ago).
Best wishes,
Chris Lam
Sorry to hear about Dr. Rogers passing. He was our family physician for many years. He was one of the best.
Our condolences to Marion and family.
Roger was a special friend and business partner for many years.
We were especially saddened when we saw him struggle with Alzheimer’s. He is at last at peace with this deaded disease.
Love from us all.
Verna, Fred and Family