Joseph P. Rogers, Jr. “Buck", 84, a U.S. Navy veteran, retired bond lawyer at Hawkins, Delafield & Wood LLP, and innovator in the public finance industry, died on Oct. 23 of a recurrence of Lymphoma.
Born in Syracuse, New York in 1936 to Joseph P. Sr. and Helen Rogers, he moved to Middlebury, Vermont in 2007.
Rogers graduated from The Manlius School in 1954; Yale University in 1958; and Fordham University Law School in 1969 — and later served in the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant (JG) on the U.S.S. Edmonds.
After his military service and practicing as a certified public accountant, he joined the law firm of Hawkins Delafield & Wood as an associate in 1969, a member in 1977, and served as counsel from 2004 until his 2018 retirement.
While at Hawkins, Rogers specialized in all phases of federal income taxation relating to the issuance of tax-exempt bonds.
He gained a wide range of public finance experience, and was nationally known for his expertise and analytical abilities in single and multi-family housing finance.
He was a co-author of the book “The ABC’s of Housing” along with Hawkins partner Howard Zucker.
Members of the municipal industry knew Rogers as a trailblazer in the public finance industry.
Richard M. Froehlich, chief operating officer and former general counsel of the New York City Housing Development Corporation was quoted in an obituary prepared by Hawkins, Delafield for their clients, referring to Rogers as a “legendary bond lawyer who easily combined humility, grace, keen intelligence, and creativity in service to his clients.”
“HDC benefits to this day from his solutions to complex tax problems that led to significant expansion in our capacity to finance affordable housing for low income New Yorkers,” Froehlich said.
Marvin Markus, a managing director at Goldman Sachs, said: “Joe was a rock solid, quiet, and unassuming giant of the municipal housing, banking and legal community.”
“Joe’s vast legal knowledge, impeccable judgment, and unassuming style made him a most welcome and valuable member of any bond issuance team,” Tom Cary, the treasurer of the Maine State Housing Authority, added.
In his personal life, he enjoyed playing sports and music, and was an avid volunteer and mentor in his community.
In addition to his hobbies of hiking, skiing and playing the piano, he and his wife, Laurene — who he is survived by — were active members of St. Mary’s Church, where he taught religious education and served on the board of St. Mary’s School. During his summer vacation, Mr. Rogers was a volunteer at the De La Salle Blackfeet School in Browning, Montana.
He also worked with residents at the local nursing home, and was a guardian ad litem for children in Vermont.
“As good as Joe was in his professional life, he was even better as a person,” Howard Berkman, a retired Hawkins partner, said of Rogers in the obituary.
Besides his wife, he is also survived by his sister Jane Corcoran, as well as many close family members. He was preceded in death by his brother Otto.
A funeral mass took place on Nov. 14 at St. Mary’s Church in Middlebury, followed by a burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Mary’s Church 326 College Street, Middlebury, Vermont 05753; the De La Salle Blackfeet School 104 First Street NW, Browning, Montana 59417; or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 3 International Drive, Suite 200, Rye Brook, NY 10573.
