Thomas Matthew Rogers

Thomas Matthew Rogers, 81, of Plano, Texas, passed away on Saturday, August 10, 2024. He was born on September 19, 1942, in Flushing, New York, to the late Matthew & Margaret (Cadigan) Rogers. Tom grew up in the Flushing/Garden City, Long Island area. As a child he loved playing baseball and aspired to be a professional baseball player. At the age of 14, Tom started working on a chartered fishing boat where he learned the value of hard work and dedication, which allowed him to support himself to chase his dreams beyond baseball.

Tom was a 1960 graduate of Chaminade High School in Garden City, New York. He was driven to succeed at any early age, focused to achieve his dreams to be the very best version of himself. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree from Providence College in Rhode Island, where he was lucky enough to be the announcer for the hockey team and fell in love with the sport. Tom later earned his Law Degree from St. John’s Law School in Queens, New York in 1967. Tom began his law career at Horn & Hardart, known for the first automat cafes. After gaining a bit experience in his field, Tom worked at AllState before transferring to JCPenney in 1973. He started with them as a lawyer before transferring to Real Estate Development. With JCPenney, Tom and his family moved to Dallas, to Chicago, until finally making their home in Plano in 1992. Following many years of faithful service to JCPenney, Tom retired in 1998.

Beyond the numerous accolades above, Tom’s greatest achievement was his family. He was dedicated to his family and it held the highest priority. Tom met his future wife, Janet Tranfield, at the age of 15. He quickly knew she was the one and they eventually married on December 16, 1967. Tom was a devoted and loyal husband; he treasured Janet over their 47 wonderful years together and enjoyed the simplicity of time spent with each other. Together they enjoyed traveling the globe and exploring all of the beauties of the world. They enjoyed attending opera and Broadway shows, as well as dinners with friends. Not only was Tom an amazing husband but he was just as wonderful of a father to his two children Jennifer and Paul. He made his kids feel special, loved, and supported by the genuine care and interest that he took in their lives. Tom was always there for them with open arms, ready to encourage them and ensure they had the best opportunities in life. His guidance and presence in their lives will be remembered and cherished for years to come.

Tom had a love of sports. He loved watching soccer (futball) and was an avid Dallas Star fan, holding season tickets for over 20 years. In early years, Tom coached his kids’ sports teams which led him to become heavily involved in coaching, referring, & teaching in the years that followed. He served as a soccer referee, softball commissioner, and head of Plano Sports Authority, sharing his love for the sport and his knowledge with others. Tom loved having the ability to have a positive effect on so many kids through his involvement with sport and quickly became a father figure to so many with his acceptance of others from all walks of life.

In addition to his involvement in community sports, Tom also had a heart for charity work. He found great joy in giving back to the community in a variety of ways. Tom was grateful for his good fortune and shared this through donations to various organizations that meant a lot to him. He volunteered at the Salvation Army’s homeless shelter and at the reception desk at Medical City Plano for many years. Tom left an imprint on so many, in countless ways.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Janet Rogers; and brother-in-law, John Tranfield. He is survived by his sister Louise Rogers of New York, NY; daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer & Steven Buchheit of Frisco, TX; son and daughter-in-law, Paul & Crystal Rogers of Arnold, CA; and his beautiful granddaughter whom he adored, Haylie Buchheit.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 16, 2024 from 6-8pm in Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, Dallas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 1:00pm at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, TX 75023, with interment to follow in Restland Cemetery, Dallas. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army at www.salvationarmyusa.com, American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org/donate, or to the Special Olympics at https://support.specialolympics.org.