COCOA BEACH, FL – Retired U.S. Maritime Rear Adm. Edward ‘Ted’ Rodgers, U.S. Naval Academy 1940 graduate, and former Superintendent of the Maine Maritime Academy, died in Cocoa Beach, FL, on February 18th following a brief illness after an incredible life of devotion, faith and service to country, church and family. He was 98.
Born June 12, 1917 in Fall River, MA to Thomas Albert Rodgers and Ella Walsh Rodgers, Ted was one of three brothers, including Thomas and William, each of whom lived long, healthy lives well into their 90’s. His mother Ella, who lived to age 101, was a devout Catholic, an advocate and strong guide for the whole family.
Edward Rodgers graduated from Fall River’s Durfee High School in 1934 and studied chemistry at Durfee Technical Institute. At age 18, after seeing the iconic movie “Shipmates Forever” with Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, he thought ‘he might like to join the Navy and see a little of the world.’ With this goal in mind, Ted – who admitted he was not a very good student – crammed for three months, applied and was admitted to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. He graduated in 1940 with the rank of Ensign and graduated from flight school as a naval aviator. In early 1941, he was assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the Pacific. On December 2nd, as the Lexington’s Duty Officer, Ted was summoned to Pacific Fleet Headquarters, instructed to load the carrier with a Marine Air Group, and ship out for Midway Island. They sailed from Pearl Harbor Dec 5th. Two days later, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the declaration of war with new orders, the Lexington went hunting for Japanese targets for a week. Upon return to Hawaii a week later Ted found the battleship Utah, sunk in Lexington’s’ berth. Altogether, 59 graduates of the Class of ’40 would perish during World War II; the most deaths for any academy class in any war.
Internment at the United States Naval Academy columbarium, along with Marguerite, is scheduled for the spring. Arrangements by Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home. (For complete obituary, please see Bangor Daily News 2/20/2016)
Born June 12, 1917 in Fall River, MA to Thomas Albert Rodgers and Ella Walsh Rodgers, Ted was one of three brothers, including Thomas and William, each of whom lived long, healthy lives well into their 90’s. His mother Ella, who lived to age 101, was a devout Catholic, an advocate and strong guide for the whole family.
Edward Rodgers graduated from Fall River’s Durfee High School in 1934 and studied chemistry at Durfee Technical Institute. At age 18, after seeing the iconic movie “Shipmates Forever” with Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, he thought ‘he might like to join the Navy and see a little of the world.’ With this goal in mind, Ted – who admitted he was not a very good student – crammed for three months, applied and was admitted to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. He graduated in 1940 with the rank of Ensign and graduated from flight school as a naval aviator. In early 1941, he was assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the Pacific. On December 2nd, as the Lexington’s Duty Officer, Ted was summoned to Pacific Fleet Headquarters, instructed to load the carrier with a Marine Air Group, and ship out for Midway Island. They sailed from Pearl Harbor Dec 5th. Two days later, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the declaration of war with new orders, the Lexington went hunting for Japanese targets for a week. Upon return to Hawaii a week later Ted found the battleship Utah, sunk in Lexington’s’ berth. Altogether, 59 graduates of the Class of ’40 would perish during World War II; the most deaths for any academy class in any war.
Internment at the United States Naval Academy columbarium, along with Marguerite, is scheduled for the spring. Arrangements by Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home. (For complete obituary, please see Bangor Daily News 2/20/2016)
COCOA BEACH, FL – Retired U.S. Maritime Rear Adm. Edward ‘Ted’ Rodgers, U.S. Naval Academy 1940 graduate, and former Superintendent of the Maine Maritime Academy, died in Cocoa Beach, FL, on February 18th following a brief illness after an incredible life of devotion, faith and service to country, church and family. He was 98.
Born June 12, 1917 in Fall River, MA to Thomas Albert Rodgers and Ella Walsh Rodgers, Ted was one of three brothers, including Thomas and William, each of whom lived long, healthy lives well into their 90’s. His mother Ella, who lived to age 101, was a devout Catholic, an advocate and strong guide for the whole family.
Edward Rodgers graduated from Fall River’s Durfee High School in 1934 and studied chemistry at Durfee Technical Institute. At age 18, after seeing the iconic movie “Shipmates Forever” with Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, he thought ‘he might like to join the Navy and see a little of the world.’ With this goal in mind, Ted – who admitted he was not a very good student – crammed for three months, applied and was admitted to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. He graduated in 1940 with the rank of Ensign and graduated from flight school as a naval aviator. In early 1941, he was assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the Pacific. On December 2nd, as the Lexington’s Duty Officer, Ted was summoned to Pacific Fleet Headquarters, instructed to load the carrier with a Marine Air Group, and ship out for Midway Island. They sailed from Pearl Harbor Dec 5th. Two days later, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the declaration of war with new orders, the Lexington went hunting for Japanese targets for a week. Upon return to Hawaii a week later Ted found the battleship Utah, sunk in Lexington’s’ berth. Altogether, 59 graduates of the Class of ’40 would perish during World War II; the most deaths for any academy class in any war.
Internment at the United States Naval Academy columbarium, along with Marguerite, is scheduled for the spring. Arrangements by Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home. (For complete obituary, please see Bangor Daily News 2/20/2016)
Born June 12, 1917 in Fall River, MA to Thomas Albert Rodgers and Ella Walsh Rodgers, Ted was one of three brothers, including Thomas and William, each of whom lived long, healthy lives well into their 90’s. His mother Ella, who lived to age 101, was a devout Catholic, an advocate and strong guide for the whole family.
Edward Rodgers graduated from Fall River’s Durfee High School in 1934 and studied chemistry at Durfee Technical Institute. At age 18, after seeing the iconic movie “Shipmates Forever” with Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, he thought ‘he might like to join the Navy and see a little of the world.’ With this goal in mind, Ted – who admitted he was not a very good student – crammed for three months, applied and was admitted to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. He graduated in 1940 with the rank of Ensign and graduated from flight school as a naval aviator. In early 1941, he was assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the Pacific. On December 2nd, as the Lexington’s Duty Officer, Ted was summoned to Pacific Fleet Headquarters, instructed to load the carrier with a Marine Air Group, and ship out for Midway Island. They sailed from Pearl Harbor Dec 5th. Two days later, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the declaration of war with new orders, the Lexington went hunting for Japanese targets for a week. Upon return to Hawaii a week later Ted found the battleship Utah, sunk in Lexington’s’ berth. Altogether, 59 graduates of the Class of ’40 would perish during World War II; the most deaths for any academy class in any war.
Internment at the United States Naval Academy columbarium, along with Marguerite, is scheduled for the spring. Arrangements by Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home. (For complete obituary, please see Bangor Daily News 2/20/2016)
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