Carmen J. Rogers

Carmen J. Rogers

On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia, Carmen Joseph Rogers was called home by Our Lord Jesus Christ to rest and spend eternity with his friends and family who have preceded him to the last great mystery. 
Carmen was born in 1954 to Charles and Philomena (Silvestri) Rogers and raised in Pittsburgh's Carrick neighborhood, spending his formative years attending St Basil's and learning to play basketball and baseball at Leolyn Park.  Carmen attended Community College of Allegheny County, and was a force to be reckoned with on the basketball court both for the school and in the many leagues and pickup games he played over the span of several decades.  Carmen also spent a lot of time on the softball fields in & around Pittsburgh, enjoying a multi-decade career as a terror in various leagues and tournaments too numerous to count.  
Carmen had three beautiful daughters, Lindsay (Ken) Scanlon, Crystal Rogers, and Lisa (Eric) Schmidt, who combined to give him 7 wonderful grandchildren; he was a doting grandfather and Pappy to Bailee, Kenneth III, and Izabella; Devin and Cameron; and Brian and Ava. 
Later in life, Carmen began his relationship with friend and companion Debra Bielec. The pair made memories all over, dining, gambling, and gallivanting from May of 2005 until Carmen's passing. Carmen was very proud of the relationships he had with Debbie's daughter and his stepdaughter Carly, and was a proud Pap to his step grandchildren Angelina, Roman and Levi. Brother of Debbie Lewandowski.
 
Carmen was quite possibly the most interesting man in Pittsburgh.  He was a son, a brother, a cousin, nephew, uncle, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, bar owner, professional over-the-road and regional truck driver, shuttle driver, semi-professional basketball & softball player, amateur historian, conspiracy theorist, below average amateur bowler, world-class gambler and Trivial Pursuit player, gifted story teller, reformed thief and heartbreaker, and quite possibly the Internal Revenue Service's worst nightmare.  His favorite word was "complementary."  His favorite foods were old-world recipes home-cooked with love by the people he loved.  He loved to debate, especially when he knew he was debating from the non-favorable position just to get a rise out of you. He recently fell out of love with Seaside Heights, but still loved Deep Creek.  He reveled in giving driving directions and being early for everything.  Carmen always rooted for the underdog, and did not hesitate to stand up for those who couldn't stand up for themselves.  He liked good food, good music, good movies, and good TV shows.  He unabashedly loved his family and his friends. Carmen loved the good old days, but he also liked his Candy Crush.  We would have liked for God to have given him a little more time with us, but we also love that Carmen can now rest with Him.
 
We love you and we'll see you when we get there, Carm.  In the meantime, keep an eye on us and save us some seats.
 
Please join Carmen's family and friends Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 4 PM for a Celebration of Life at Patty Jo's, 2700 Custer Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA  15227.  There will be complementary food and refreshments.  Carmen wouldn't have it any other way. 

Arrangements entrusted to Boron Funeral Home, Inc., 1719 Brownsville Road.
www.BoronFuneralHome.com
 

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