A first-generation college student, John A. Rogers '80 has a deep appreciation for the value of education. For four years, he worked for more than 25 hours per week at Cerretani's Supermarket in Melrose while carrying a full course load as a Spanish and political science double major. It was thanks to his job and academic scholarships that he was able to obtain a college degree. "My father taught me the value of a dollar and then I learned the value of great education at BC," he says.
After graduation, Rogers received an MBA as well as a master of international affairs from Columbia University. He has since spent the majority of his professional life as a chief financial officer for small private and public software companies. He believes that BC, with its focus on the liberal arts and its core curriculum, gave him a "well-rounded view of business and ethics."
Roger's love for BC has endured over the years through a group of lifelong friends; his affinity for BC athletics as football, basketball, and hockey season ticket holder; and his strong Catholic faith. He and his wife, Michelle, stay connected with younger graduates and current students in various ways, including hosting gatherings at their lakefront home on Little Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire.
Gasson Society members for many years, the couple recently joined the Shaw Society by making annual deferred annuity gifts and an end-of-life bequest. Through their support, the Rogerses are helping BC plan for its future as it embarks on its 30-year campus master plan.
"Although I graduated from BC in 1980, I have never felt that I have left BC," says Rogers. "I plan on continuing that connection for life."
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