Blythe Thomas Rogers

Blythe Thomas Rogers ( Blythe ) passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 29 after a brief battle with cancer. 

Blythe is predeceased by his parents Philip Tingley and Jean, wife Gail, sister Sarah and his first son Cameron. He leaves behind his brothers Brian ( Jennifer ) and Ian ( Judith ) and children Jennifer (partner Peter and grandchild Lazlo) and Angus (partner Vanessa and grandkids Cameron, Blythe and Coco). 

The word Blythe (in its old English form) is defined as joyous, gentle and kind. Dad was very much defined by his optimism, gentle disposition and propensity to enjoy life to its fullest. 

Born in 1934, Blythe came of age in post WW2 with some of its scars still close to the surface yet unbridled optimism on the horizon. After stints at Vernon Prep in BC, and Trinity College in Port Hope, Ontario, including a year with polio, Blythe travelled far and wide. Stories of his first 25 years of his life harken back to an era of English style boarding schools and ocean liner travel with stops in many parts of Europe, as well as the Dominican Republic where the family's business had operations. Through it all, he landed on his feet even if the odd tarantula spider tried to take him down.

 Arriving back in Vancouver and looking to start a career, Blythe deliberately took a route different from many in his family, and decided that plastics, not sugar, was going to be his area of expertise. Over the next decade he rode the wave of industrial development in Western Canada. During this time he met his future wife Gail. Vancouver during this time was undergoing a real post war boom. Cocktail parties, jazz clubs, racing cars, snow and water skiing on the same day... It was a heady time for fun activities, and Blythe was front and center. 

Blythe and Gail married in 1961 and went on to have 3 children, living in the Kerrisdale neighborhood in Vancouver. During this time, professionally Dad went on to develop many more innovative products including modular bathrooms and a 3 wheel electric car. This was during the energy crisis and Blythe was seeking solutions as always. In some ways The Rascal was his Waterloo, as interest rates went to 20%, and the economy went into a terrible recession. Commercial viability unfortunately never occurred. In the end we know now he was 30 years or so ahead of his time. 

Through it all Blythe stayed positive. This challenging period not only included a rough economic backdrop, but also the loss of his son Cameron, and health scares for both he and Gail. His love of family and friends and his native British Columbia pulled him through. No bigger champion of Vancouver and British Columbia existed than 3rd generation Vancouverite Blythe Rogers. 

Later in life, Blythe worked with the First Nations realizing commercial opportunities across Canada, as well as travelling extensively with Gail and friends. He was a wonderful father and grandfather - always sharing a funny story, and offering quiet, meaningful support. His legacies are many, but arguably his kindness and optimism will always be remembered. 

Thankfully, his suffering was short, and we are blessed that he is back among family and old friends, hopefully dining on some Dungeness crab, spot prawns and a nice cold beer. 

Thanks go out to the whole team at Brock Fahrni and to Yolanda, his personal caregiver - they all made his last few years comfortable and fun. A celebration of Blythe's life will be held near his birthday next spring in early April.