Rogers director and philanthropist Loretta Rogers dies at age 83

The matriarch of the Rogers family, noted philanthropist Loretta Rogers, has passed away. She was 83.

Her daughter Martha shared a statement from the family on Twitter saying “a beautiful soul left us today” and asked that donations be made to charities she supported in lieu of flowers.

A beautiful soul left us today. She was a one of a kind spirit who spread love like wildfire. In lieu of flowers there’s many charities Loretta preferred getting support. We’ll give a list of those soon. pic.twitter.com/bnntzpXuYo

— Martha Rogers (@MarthaLRogers) June 11, 2022

A statement on behalf of Rogers Communications said she passed away “peacefully in her home, surrounded by family.”

“Lisa, Melinda, Martha, and I are profoundly saddened by our mother’s passing. We are grieving for an amazing woman who had love and compassion in her heart, kindness in her soul, and who possessed an incredible strength of character,” Edward Rogers said. “She lived a full and vibrant life and we, like all those who knew her, will deeply miss her leadership and guidance.”

Rogers served as director of Rogers Communications since 1979, founded by her husband Ted Rogers, who passed away in 2008.

In 2014, Loretta led an unprecedented $130 million donation to establish the Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research aimed at improving the future of heart health, in addition to founding the Loretta A. Rogers Chair in Eating Disorders at Toronto General & Western Hospital and the Ted Rogers Family Chair in Heart Function at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.

She also served on the board of directors of the University Health Network Foundation since 2004, was on the Bishop Strachan School Foundation from 1980 to 2009, was President & Director of the Canadian Lyford Cay Foundation since 1980, was on the board of directors of the Robert Bateman Foundation since 2012 and was the founding Director of Sheena’s Place.

Loretta was one of several family members at the centre of a struggle for control of the company last fall that began when her son Edward Rogers, the company’s chair, attempted to oust its chief executive.

She and two of her daughters – Martha and Melinda Rogers-Hixon, who are also board members – opposed the move, saying they went against the company’s governance practices.

But Edward Rogers went ahead with his plans after a B.C. Court affirmed his right to do so.

Loretta Rogers is survived by her children Lisa, Edward, Melinda and Martha.

Rogers is the parent company of CityNews