Edward S. Rogers Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ted Rogers
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Statue of Rogers in front of Rogers Centre
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| Born |
Edward Samuel Rogers Jr.
May 27, 1933 |
| Died | December 2, 2008 (aged 75) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Resting place | Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto |
| Alma mater |
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| Title | President and CEO of Rogers Communications |
| Term | 1967–2008 |
| Spouse(s) |
Loretta Robinson
(m. 1963) |
| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Relatives | Timothy Rogers |
Edward Samuel "Ted" Rogers Jr. (May 27, 1933 – December 2, 2008) was a famous Canadian businessman. He was the head of Rogers Communications, a very large company. This company provides phone, internet, and TV services across Canada. Ted Rogers was known for building this company into a media giant. He was also a generous person who gave a lot to charities and schools.
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Ted Rogers' Early Life and Education
Ted Rogers was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His father, Edward S. Rogers Sr., was a pioneer in radio. This means his father was one of the first people to work with radio technology.
Ted went to a school called Upper Canada College. After that, he studied at the University of Toronto. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956. While at university, he joined a group called the Sigma Chi fraternity.
Building a Media Empire
Ted Rogers was still a student in 1960 when he bought a radio station. It was called CHFI-FM. At that time, not many homes had FM radios. Ted was one of the first to see the future of FM broadcasting.
By 1965, he was also involved in the cable TV business. In 1967, he officially started Rogers Communications. This company grew to become one of Canada's biggest media companies. It offers services like cable TV, internet, and wireless phones.
Owning the Toronto Blue Jays
Ted Rogers also loved baseball. On September 1, 2000, his company, Rogers Communications, bought most of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. The Blue Jays are a Major League Baseball team.
In 2003, he bought the rest of the team. This meant he owned the entire team until he passed away. The Blue Jays' home stadium, SkyDome, was even renamed Rogers Centre in 2005. This happened after Rogers' company bought the stadium and its naming rights.
Ted Rogers' Family Life
On September 25, 1963, Ted Rogers married Loretta Anne Robinson. Loretta's father was a British politician.
Ted and Loretta had four children together. Their names are Lisa, Edward, Melinda, and Martha. Ted Rogers was also related to Timothy Rogers. Timothy Rogers was a Quaker leader who helped start towns like Newmarket and Pickering in Ontario.
Awards and Recognition
Ted Rogers received many awards for his work and contributions.
- In 1990, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is a very high honour for Canadians.
- He also received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement in 1990.
- In 2006, he was added to Canada's Telecommunications Hall of Fame. His father was also inducted at the same time.
- In 2010, he was recognized in the Wireless Hall of Fame. This was for his important role in the cellular phone industry.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
Ted Rogers and his wife Loretta were very generous. They gave large amounts of money to help others.
Support for Universities
In 2000, Ted and Loretta gave $26.8 million (Canadian dollars) to the University of Toronto. This large gift helped the engineering department. They named the Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering after his father.
This gift also created scholarships for students. It helped set up special research labs and programs.
In 2007, they gave $15 million (Canadian dollars) to Ryerson University. This money went to the Faculty of Business. It was renamed the Ted Rogers School of Management in his honour. This gift helped create many new scholarships for students. It also supported new research in business management.
Heart Research Centre
On November 20, 2014, the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research was started. This happened after his family gave $130 million (Canadian dollars) in his memory. This was the largest private gift ever for health care in Canada at that time.
This centre brings together different hospitals and the University of Toronto. They work together to find new ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent heart failure. This includes both adults and children. It aims to be a world leader in personalized medicine and stem cell research for heart health.
Passing and Legacy
Ted Rogers passed away on December 2, 2008, at the age of 75. He had been dealing with heart problems. He was buried in the family plot at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.
His life story was written in a book called Relentless: The True Story of the Man Behind Rogers Communications. This book was released shortly before he died.
To honour him, a street in Toronto was renamed Ted Rogers Way in 2009. This street is next to the main Rogers building.
Every year, a special conference is held in his memory. It's called the Ted Rogers Memorial Conference (TRMC). It invites university students to learn about his values. The conference theme is TED: Take risks. Embrace innovation. Defy the status quo.
See also
- Aldred-Rogers Broadcasting
- List of billionaires
- List of Upper Canada College alumni
