2023
May 2023
Sunday 7 May 2023
Sun 7 May, 2-5 pm. Gainesville Women’s Club, 2809 West University Avenue, Gainesville, 32607. Gainesville Oldtime Dance Society - [facebook][email][events]
1 pm Doors open
2 – 5 pm Celebration of life and memorial dance
Please join us for a celebration of Al’s life with a memorial service followed by a dance including some of his favorite dance forms.
Admission is free and open to the public.
Celebration of Life in Loving Memory of Al Rogers, June 9, 1948 – March 1, 2023.
Al was a prominent member of several dance communities (English Country, Contra, Scottish, and Irish dance) in Gainesville, FL. He regularly traveled throughout north and central Florida to support other dance communities.
Al was an accomplished and kind dancer, a true gentleman in all respects. It didn’t matter if someone was the newest or most experienced dancer—he danced joyfully with all dancers and he took great pride in helping new dancers learn to dance. Al was the true embodiment of a dance angel.
A longtime resident of Gainesville, Al was a superb trumpet player in the Gainesville High School band. Al went to the US Army Officer Candidate School, joined the Army Special Forces, aka Green Berets, and served 2 tours in Vietnam as a Captain. For many years, Al ran the family furniture business, Rog Ran, with his brother Marvin. After taking early retirement, Al was a tech guru to friends, an active member of the YMCA, an avid hiker, and a volunteer at the Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park.
Music anchored by Wind That Shakes the Barley.
Dances taught and called by JoLaine, Annette Merritt, Randy Thorp, Piper Call, Vicki Morrison, and Alice Raibourn.
Masks are not required, but Al would have appreciated it if you wore a KN95 mask or equivalent out of concern for vulnerable members of our community.
Al dedicated his life to helping others. In lieu of flowers, we would prefer donations to the Humane Society of North Central Florida (humanesocietyncfl.org), the Friends of Paynes Prairie (prairiefriends.org), your local dance group, or your favorite charitable organization.
With love,
Al’s partner Christine, and Al’s siblings Frances Hopson, David & Carlene Rogers, Marvin & Lynn Rogers, and Margaret Rogers