James Rogers

James Ted “Jim” Rogers, Jr., age 73, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2016. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pauline (neé Prevatte) and James Ted Rogers, Sr. and his brother, David Larry Rogers. Jim is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Pamela Ann Loudon, his two children, James T. Rogers III (Kimberly) and Stephanie M. Rogers, his sister, Nancy Rogers Hughes, and two grandchildren, Elizabeth T. Rogers and James T. Rogers IV.

Born in Statesville, North Carolina, Jim was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at age sixteen and was valedictorian of his senior class. Jim attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a Morehead Scholarship and upon graduating with honors in 1964, he attended Duke University to pursue mathematical research sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Jim then followed his mentor at UNC, Professor F. Burton Jones, to the University of California at Riverside. Under Professor Jones, he earned his master’s degree in mathematics in 1966 and his Ph.D. in 1968 and was awarded a National Aeronautics and Space Administration fellowship.

While at U.C. Riverside, Jim met and married Pamela. He accepted a position at Tulane University in 1968 where he remained until his retirement in 2010. During his 42 years, he received numerous National Science Foundation grants and traveled both to present his work at conferences and to collaborate with other mathematicians. He was proud of his numerous awards for Excellence in Teaching and served as faculty advisor to the Athletic Department and the Board of Trustees. During his career, Jim was most interested in continuum theory, with an emphasis on homogeneity, and developed an interest in dynamical systems, especially holomorphic dynamics of the complex plane. Jim was very supportive of and active in his children’s participation in sports. He loved Cajun dancing, traveling and playing poker. Devoted to his family, students and research, he will be lovingly missed by his family and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Jim’s life during a Memorial Service at the Myra Clare Rogers Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, April 20, 2016. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a memorial following. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome contributions to the National Parkinson’s Foundation (www.parkinson.org) or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (www.michaeljfox.org). Private interment to follow at Metairie Cemetery. To sign the family guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.