Edward S. Rogers Jr.
Ted Rogers | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edward Samuel Rogers Jr. 27 May 1933 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 2 December 2008 (aged 75) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Known for | President and CEO of Rogers Communications; majority owner of Toronto Blue Jays |
Edward Samuel "Ted" Rogers Jr. (May 27, 1933 – December 2, 2008) was a prominent Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist who held the position of president and CEO at Rogers Communications. At the height of his career, he ranked as the fifth wealthiest individual in Canada by net worth.
Life and career
Ted Rogers was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Velma Melissa (Taylor) and radio innovator Edward S. Rogers Sr.. He completed his education at Upper Canada College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College at the University of Toronto in 1956. During his university years, he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and was honored as a Significant Sig in 1979.
While still studying law at Osgoode Hall Law School in 1960, Rogers purchased all the shares of the local radio station CHFI, becoming a pioneer in FM broadcasting at a time when only about 5% of Toronto households owned FM receivers. By 1965, he had ventured into cable television. Established in 1967, Rogers Communications evolved into one of Canada's foremost media giants. Although his father originally founded the radio station CFRB, it is currently owned by competitor Bell Media.
On September 1, 2000, Rogers Communications acquired an 80% stake in the Toronto Blue Jays, making Rogers the majority owner; Labatt Brewing retained the remaining 20%. Rogers purchased Labatt’s share in 2003, gaining full ownership until his passing. In 2005, Rogers Communications bought the Blue Jays’ stadium, renaming SkyDome as the Rogers Centre.
Marriage and family
Rogers married Loretta Anne Robinson on September 25, 1963. She is the daughter of British statesman and former Bermuda Governor Roland Robinson, 1st Baron Martonmere. Together they had four children: Lisa, Edward, Melinda, and Martha. Ted Rogers was a direct descendant of Quaker pioneer Timothy Rogers, who founded Newmarket and Pickering in Ontario.
Honours and awards
On October 25, 1990, Rogers was named an Officer of the Order of Canada. That same year, he received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. In 2006, both he and his father were inducted into Canada's Telecommunications Hall of Fame. Posthumously in 2010, Rogers was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame for his significant impact on the cellular industry.
Philanthropy
In 2000, Ted Rogers and his wife contributed to the University of Toronto's Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. This donation led to naming the Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in honor of his father. Their generosity supported scholarships, endowed professorships, research labs, and student initiatives.
On May 29, 2007, their gift to Ryerson University's Faculty of Business resulted in its renaming as the Ted Rogers School of Management. The funds established 52 new scholarships and created a research chair to enhance management education.
On November 20, 2014, Ted Rogers' family made a historic donation to establish the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research—the largest private contribution ever made to Canadian healthcare. This center brings together The Hospital for Sick Children, University Health Network, and the University of Toronto to promote advancements in personalized medicine, stem cell science, bioengineering, regenerative therapies, digital health technologies, and clinical care aimed at preventing and treating heart failure.
Death and commemoration
Edward Samuel Rogers passed away due to congestive heart failure on December 2, 2008, at the age of 75, in his residence located in Toronto. He was laid to rest at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.
His memoir, co-authored with communications expert Robert Brehl and entitled Relentless: The True Story of the Man Behind Rogers Communications, was released merely ten weeks prior to his passing. To honor his memory, on December 2, 2009, a portion of Jarvis Street next to the Rogers Building was officially renamed Ted Rogers Way.
The first-ever Ted Rogers Memorial Conference (TRMC) took place from March 4 to 6, 2010. This event was organized by Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management alongside the Ryerson Commerce Society to pay tribute to his enduring impact. The conference motivated Canadian university students to adopt Rogers' principles of embracing risk, fostering innovation, and questioning conventional norms.
See also
External links
- Memorial webpage – Rogers Communications Inc.
- Find A Grave – Ted Rogers
- Ted Rogers at Museum of Broadcast Communications
- Forbes.com: Forbes World's Richest People
- Ambition: The Life and Times of Ted Rogers – CBC episode of Life and Times
- Order of Canada citation
- AP Obituary in the National Post
- Laureate award – Canada's Telecommunications Hall of Fame (video)
- Ted Rogers Memorial Conference
- Edward S. Rogers Jr. - Canadian Communications Foundation
- Canadian mass media owners
- Officers of the Order of Canada
- Toronto Blue Jays executives
- Businesspeople from Toronto
- Rogers Communications
- University of Toronto alumni
- Trinity College (Canada) alumni
- Lawyers in Ontario
- Canadian television executives
- Upper Canada College alumni
- Canadian billionaires
- Canadian sports businesspeople
- Burials at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
- 1933 births
- 2008 deaths
- Rogers family (Canada)