Mr. Charles "Charlie" Nickerson Rogers

He was born at Fall River Hospital on February 17th 1948 to William Rogers, Provincetown Chief of Police, and Phebe, an English teacher at Provincetown High School. Charlie spent most of his life in Provincetown and the last 25 years in neighboring Truro. He often would fondly recall events from his childhood such as having fish fights on the beach with cousins and other neighborhood kids. He attended Provincetown High School where he played on the football team. After high school he first attended Clark University and then transferred to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Geology.

Charlie was a hard worker and had a keen sense for business. He started his career path with making donuts in the early hours at the old Donut Shop (currently Chach) and as a bouncer at the Governor Bradford. His first professional job was in land surveying followed by a brief stint as a shop owner, opening Pilgrim Variety convenience store formerly located at 322 Commercial St. In 1985 he was encouraged by his friends who were lawyers to become a Title Examiner and spent 30 years researching properties at the Registry of Deeds for real estate transactions. For many years Charlie was involved in local government serving on the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and the Select Board to support the business community and preserve the character of Provincetown. He was also involved in building several housing projects that he developed with some of his close friends. In 1989 he purchased Provincetown Lumber, renamed it Conwell Lumber and in order to better serve the larger community expanded the services to include Ace Hardware in the business. He was supported at critical junctures early on in his adult life by some key individuals such as Ruth Hiebert and John Roderick. Their trust and kindness gave him the opportunity he needed to succeed. He continued to pay that gift forward for the rest of his life helping others when he could.

Charlie and his wife, Joan Jodko, first met at the Surf Club in the Summer of 1972. Originally from Custer Michigan, Joan was visiting Provincetown on an extended summer vacation after graduating from college with an art degree. Charlie and Joan hit it off quickly, were soon inseparable, and they were married May 12th 1973. Joan was the love of his life and they quickly started a life together having two sons, Jeff and Joe. Joan became a preschool teacher and had her own school on Sandy Hill Lane adjacent to the family home and later she joined him at Conwell Ace as manager. His son Jeff moved to the Cape in 2006 allowing Charlie and Joan to retire a couple years later. They enjoyed many years of retirement traveling as much as they could.

Charlie pursued many interests over the years. He particularly enjoyed experimenting with food, preparing meals for friends and family especially spicy dishes. Sometimes he would host exotic food parties for his friends. He had a keen interest in science fiction and in particular zombie stories. He greatly enjoyed studying genealogy and family history. Combining that love with his work on deeds and probates, he conducted a lot of personal research into family trees and property holdings dating back to the earliest settlement years. Charlie was very proud of being a 13th generation direct male descendant of Thomas Rogers, one of the Pilgrims who in 1620 signed the Mayflower Compact in Provincetown Harbor. He loved his family very much and spending time with his grandchildren. He supported their education driving them back and forth to middle school, music lessons and taught them how to drive a car when they became old enough.

Charlie never gave up when he was diagnosed with renal cancer in 2005 at age 57 and doctors told him that he only had a year left to live. With the help of newly available medications his cancer went into remission for several years. In 2010 his remaining kidney failed and he required dialysis treatments for the rest of his life. Towards the end of his life he lived in a lot of chronic pain but he had a lot left to live for and outlived his initial doctors’ predictions by 18 years! He leaves behind his wife of 50 years Joan, his oldest son, Jeff Rogers and wife Stacy and their children Kaden (21), Amaryllis (18) and Ellowyn (11). He also leaves behind his younger son Joe and his wife Mary Alice.

The memorial service will be held at Nickerson Funeral Home in Wellfleet on February 17th 2024. Visitation will be from 10-11:30am with a short program between 11:30 and 12. A reception / luncheon will follow at Montano’s Restaurant that same afternoon between 1 and 3pm for all friends, family and acquaintances who would like to celebrate his life.

The family asks that if you are so inclined, in lieu of flowers or other gifts, please make donations to Provincetown Soup Kitchen or Shriners Children’s Hospital or any charity of your choice.