Stephen Paul Rogers

Steve was born in San Diego, CA and spent much of his childhood in Pomona, CA. He graduated from Pomona Catholic High School, where he was his Senior Class President. After four years of service in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Sea Leopard submarine, he attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he earned a B.S. in Industrial Technology. A few years later he returned to school to pursue graduate studies at Santa Clara University. 

In 1971, Steve married his sweetheart Lois, and while recently in the hospital, they were able to celebrate their 54th Anniversary on May 22nd.  

Steve worked for several Telecommunications Companies throughout the Bay Area, on the East Coast and in the Midwest. In 1969 he went to work in Berkeley for Karkar Electronics, in the heart valve department where he remained for 12 years. Following that, Lois and Steve moved around the country as Steve worked first in the Boston area and then took employment in Boulder, Colorado before returning to work in Petaluma. He retired in 2013.

Both Lois and Steve loved to travel, particularly internationally, exploring many countries throughout Europe, the San Juan Islands, Canada, Australia, French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora, Mo’orea) and Hawaii. Steve claimed he had visited 49 U.S. States and regretted only not ever making it to Alaska. Another love of theirs was taking road trips all over the U.S. in their various R.V.’s, especially taking along grandkids, and also spending weeks up at their cabin in the beautiful mountain town of Twain Harte, CA.

Besides keeping busy with day to day activities in retirement, Steve took on various forms of Community work which were very important to him. He began with volunteering to be President of the St. Leo’s Men’s Club and President of the Chantarelle HOA, before also being publicly elected as Director for the Valley of the Moon Water Board and the Sonoma Valley GSA Board. Steve loved his “garage down time” and spent endless hours “playing” with his shop tools, repairing things, building various items and many woodworking projects. His favorite project however, was refurbishing his beloved 1967 Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider. He loved telling his friends that this was the only thing he ever purchased, and kept in only his name, after marrying Lois! He also rebuilt his 1978 Aermacchi Harley Davidson motorcycle, which was absolutely beautiful when he finished it.

Steve loved his family, especially enjoying his time spent with his four grandchildren and watching them grow from infants to college students (Jack & Drew Bugbee) to High School (Matthew Edelen) and Jr. High (Grace Edelen). They will dearly miss their beloved Papa! 

In his final weeks, Steve was very pleased to visit with friends and relatives who came to see him in the hospital. As a lifelong devoted Catholic he was really happy to have his priest, Father JoJo, from St. Leo’s Parish in Sonoma, come visit him and bring his jovial fun humor, good conversation, comforting prayers and communion. Steve passed away with his dear family and very caring hospital staff surrounding him on May 27th. He is survived by his beloved wife Lois, his adored daughters, Denise Bugbee (Todd) and Laura Edelen (Dave) and his treasured grandchildren, Jack and Drew Bugbee and Matthew and Grace Edelen. He also is survived by his brother Tony Rogers of Honolulu, Hi. 

Steve was predeceased by his parents William and Eleanor Rogers, and his Sister and Brother-In-Law Jeanne and Andy Ramos. 

Please join us at Steve’s Celebration of Life which will be held on Monday, June 30th, 11:00 a.m. at St. Leo’s Parish in Sonoma.

In Steve’s memory, donations may be made to UCSF Lung Cancer Research Ctr.   https://giving.ucsf.edu/fund/lung-cancer-fund

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Stephen Paul Rogers, please visit our floral store.