Dr. Joseph T. Rogers

Joseph T. Rogers, DO, died peacefully on December 11, 2015 at age 95. He was predeceased by his wife of 70 years, Sheila McGown, who died earlier this year. Joe was born on August 31, 1920 in Beckley, West Virginia. He attended the University of Kentucky on a music scholarship, majoring in trumpet. He later enrolled in the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he met his future wife. Following graduation, he began an internship at the Detroit Osteopathic Hospital in Highland Park, MI. Joe was a pioneer in osteopathic medicine. He was active in the American College of Osteopathic Internists and served as its president in 1963. He established the first cardiology fellowship training program in the osteopathic profession, and developed the open heart surgery program at the Detroit Osteopathic Hospital in the mid 1960s. In his later years, he practiced cardiology centered on environmental medicine, before he retired at age 91. He had many interests outside of the world of medicine, and established a program for the certification of organic foods in the early 1980s. He participated in Rotary and the downriver branch of the Salvation Army beginning in the 1950s. He loved gardening and beekeeping. He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church on Grosse Ile since 1950, sang in its choir, served on its vestry and oversaw the environmental committee. His greatest legacy may have been to instill a sense of responsibility to serve others, whether through medicine or other humanitarian means. He is survived by Joseph C. Rogers, DO (Rosemary), Felix J. Rogers, DO (Caroline), Sheila Rogers DeMare (Frank) and Lisa Rogers, DO. He leaves 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, with one on the way. Friends are invited to Martenson's Funeral Home, 3200 West Road, Trenton on Friday, December 18, 2015 from 3 until 7 PM. A funeral service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church, on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 2 PM.