Howard Rogers Jr.

Howard “Howie” Gordon Rogers, Jr. was born on September 28,1964 in West Haven, CT, the only son of Howard and Birder Rogers and the grandson of Florence King. After the passing of his parents, his father’s brother and sister-in-law, Clarence Rogers, Jr. and Nan Rogers of New Haven, played a significant role in Howard’s upbringing. A sweet grace note was that he shared September 28th as a birthdate with his Auntie Nan. As a young man, Howard was known as a superior student, who participated in the Boy Scouts and in Little League. He graduated from Notre Dame High School in West Haven in 1982, and did undergraduate work at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Howard was a person who cherished his family and life-long friends, and he was fiercely devoted to them. His sweet, generous, and self-effacing nature was his finest asset. He was a hard-working man, extraordinarily responsible and dependable. He was a long-time employee of CT Transit, the place where his childhood best friend, Robert Wingate, introduced him to Denise Tappin, a driver with the company. Howard and Denise eventually became a couple, and Howard became a father figure to Denise’s daughters, Shacora and Colonia Thigpen, who he would go on to embrace as his own daughters. On October 13, 2001, Howard proposed to Denise. She accepted and in 2002, on his birthday, in the presence of their loved ones, they became husband and wife, cementing their life together in unity, with the two girls, as well as Shacora’s infant son, JonVonte Kevin Thigpen, known affectionately as “Macho”, who Howard loved as a grandson, calling him “his partner”. Howard loved life, and above all, he wanted all of those he loved to be happy. He made that his mission. He took his family on trips and attended family reunions. He happily volunteered to be the limo chauffeur for the high school proms of Colonia and his niece Dominique Rogers Kennedy. He hosted a festive annual cookout at his home each year, where he would make his famous ribs. He always looked forward to attending the Blue Jay’s Drivers' Surface Club bowling parties and their Annual Dance. He was a member of the New Trinity Temple, which was led by the late Bishop Charles H. Brewer Jr and the present Bishop, Charles H. Brewer, III. Howard was the world’s biggest booster for Dominique, Colonia, and his goddaughter, Arriana, when it came to attending their school sports and performing activities. He would tell anyone who would listen about their great talents and achievements. If you knew him, even for a moment, you knew that Howard was a sports fan to whom no one could compare. His team was the Dallas Cowboys, and it was with them where you could find him on a Sunday during the NFL season. That time watching the Cowboys play was reserved as a special bonding time with his grandson, Macho. Last year, he was excited beyond measure to welcome another baby boy into the family, Dominique’s son, Jonathan Craig, Jr. He was looking forward to adding Jonathan to that treasured bonding time with the Cowboys. It is difficult to express just how much Howard will truly be missed. He was a loving and tender son, brother, nephew, cousin, friend, husband, father and grandfather. For his wife of 17 years, Denise, who was the love of his life, he will be held in her heart as her darling “Pooh Bear”. In addition to his wife Denise, daughters Shacora and Colonia, grandson JonVonte, niece Dominique and and grandnephew Jonathan, he also leaves his older sisters, Cheryl Lynn Rogers and Sharon Denise Rogers, his first-cousin Robin Williams, and his brothers and sister-in-law, Alan Jones and Anglea and Darell Porter of Lorain, OH. He was the proud godfather of Jared Arter, Nicole Dunnaville-Wingate, Arriana Williams, and London Givan. Rest in Paradise and Rest in Power, Howie. Until we meet again...

Howard Rogers Jr.

September 28, 1964 - May 14, 2020