The family of John F. Rogers is saddened to announce that he passed away unexpectedly of an apparent heart attack at his home in Lenox on Saturday, September 10, 2022.
John was born on June 3, 1952, to the late Dr. Donald B. and Jean F. Rogers at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He came to Northampton as an infant and was educated in the public schools there, graduating from Northampton High School in 1970 as class president. John received his undergraduate degree from Yale College in 1974 and his law degree from Georgetown University three years later.
Whip smart, charismatic and witty, John was a trusted advisor and a beloved friend to many throughout his life. He came to the Berkshires in 1978 to join the firm that is now Cain, Hibbard & Myers, PC. He spent 22 years in private practice advising healthcare organizations on business, transactions, regulatory matters, and litigation before becoming General Counsel at Berkshire Health Systems (BHS). He joined BHS in 2000 as Vice President and General Counsel after many years of serving as outside legal counsel. John was a dedicated advocate of patients’ rights, ‘health systems strengthening,’ and an avid protector of Berkshire Health Systems. He constantly strove to ensure the organization was strong and thoughtful and best served the community’s needs.
John also worked tirelessly to accompany and strengthen community organizations through his many volunteer efforts, such as serving on the YMCA board. The loss of his foster brother, Henry Singleton, inspired his passion for working on drug-related harm reduction. One of the first in the country to raise a red flag about opioid over-prescription, he worked tirelessly to advance local efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in partnership with local municipalities, the Berkshire County District Attorney, and the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office. His deep insights and forward-thinking enabled BHS and other community organizations to succeed in ways that were not always visible but were crucial in navigating complex legal issues and shaping them into the programs they are today.
John was entirely devoted to his family, especially his daughters and grandchildren. John married Judith Woods Rogers of Lenox on December 30, 1994. He is survived by his wife; his siblings Susan Rogers of Northampton, Richard Rogers (Deborah) of Glendale, Wis., Peter Rogers (Paige Carter) of Williamstown, and Laura Rogers of Dorchester, Mass.; children Lindsay Rogers of Pasadena, Calif., Caitrin Rogers (Thomas Hill) of Pasadena, Calif., and Lydia Rogers of Lenox; stepchildren Rebecca Kelly of Lenox and Shannon Backstrom (Jonathan) of Georgetown, Mass.; grandchildren Isla and Cleo Hill; step grandchildren Ella Kelly and Samuel Backstrom; and several nieces and nephews.
Burial will be private. There will be a celebration of John’s life at a later date. In place of flowers, donations in John’s memory may be made to the Cancer Treatment Center at BMC Pittsfield, the YMCA, or Partners in Health, in care of the Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240 or to a charity of your choice.
To share memories and stories, please visit the website of Roche Funeral Home.
