Statement from Cal Athletics on the Passing of T. Gary Rogers

T. Gary Rogers was a legendary figure in the history of Cal Athletics, and we will remember and cherish him as a devoted Golden Bear whose unconditional support has inspired and fueled our student-athletes' success since his time as a Cal oarsman. A visionary leader, business executive, and most of all a friend, Gary exuded a true passion for this university, and Cal rowing in particular. We will honor the fervent respect and admiration he inspired in others. His noble spirit will endure.
 
 
Comments from Cal Rowing Coaches Mike Teti and Al Acosta
 
Mike Teti, Cal men's rowing head coach:

"In my lifetime, I don't know of anyone who has had more of an impact in the sport of rowing on the West Coast than Gary Rogers. Gary is 100 percent responsible for the resurgence of not only Cal, but all of Pac-12 rowing. His influence helped produce fourteen of the last seventeen national championships, seven of which belong to Cal. Gary loved excellence and demanded excellence. He elevated everyone. I received a call this morning (Wednesday) from Mike Callahan, the head coach at Washington. He knew what Gary meant, not just to this program but to our entire sport. His vision to hire Steve Gladstone at Cal produced five national championships. That made Washington up its game, which in turn kept pushing us. Gary has also been a huge influence on international rowing by being a great supporter of the U.S. National Team.
 
But more important than that, Gary was always conscious of the big picture. He loved Cal and Cal rowing, but he was always happiest and most at ease when he was around our guys. In the last couple of years, I got to know Gary well. He started to come around more as he had a little more time. I was able to sit back and watch him connect with these young kids. He loved mentoring our student-athletes. You could just see the twinkle in his eye when the guys would come and ask him for advice. There was an age differential, but he just connected so well with our guys. Whether they were thinking of going into medicine, applying to business school, or simply wanting to talk about the future, any of our student-athletes could pick up the phone to call Gary, and he would drop whatever he was doing to help them. He absolutely loved those interactions and that connection with our student-athletes. He was a brilliant man and will be sorely missed."
 

Al Acosta, Cal women's rowing head coach:

"Gary Rogers' passing was a shock to the entire rowing world, especially to the men and women, past and present, of Cal crew. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Rogers family. From Olympic gold medalists to novice rowers in the 4V, thousands of Cal student-athletes were touched by Gary's unwavering support. He will be deeply missed."
 
 
Remembering T. Gary Rogers (1942–2017)

Intercollegiate Athletics Director H. Michael Williams issued the following statement on the passing of Cal's dear and trusted friend:
 
The University of California, Berkeley and Cal Athletics mourn the loss of T. Gary Rogers, a leader, business executive and, above all, a friend, who exuded a true passion for the university, particularly the rowing program. He passed away Tuesday, May 2 at the age of 74.
 
A legendary figure in Cal Athletics history, Gary will be remembered and cherished as a devoted friend of Cal rowing whose unconditional support has inspired and fueled Cal's rowing success since his time as a student-athlete.
 
A rower during his undergraduate days at Cal, Gary received the Dean Witter Trophy for loyalty, proficiency, and spirit for Cal crew in his senior year. He was named a Cal All-University Athlete in 1963 and rowed in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1964. "That's where I learned the lessons of life," he told the San Francisco Business Times in 2011. "I learned more in rowing than I learned in any classroom. My crew coach would always say, 'There's no such thing as can't, only won't.' It's the power of optimism and persistence. The joy in life is the struggle."
 
In honor of his many accomplishments, Gary received the 2013 Cal Athletic Hall of Fame Service Award — given for outstanding long-term contributions to Cal Athletics and presented to an individual who demonstrates exemplary leadership and sets a standard for excellence in enhancing the Cal student-athlete experience. 
 
Gary remained a dedicated supporter of Cal rowing throughout his life, and the T. Gary Rogers Rowing Center on the Oakland Estuary is named in his honor.
 
Born in Stockton in 1942, Gary graduated from Cal in 1963 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He later earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1968. Gary went on to a highly successful business career, which included serving as chairman and CEO of Dreyer's Ice Cream for 30 years, and as chairman of Levi Strauss & Co. and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. He and partner William F. (Rick) Cronk purchased Dreyer's in 1977 and transformed it from a small, regional company into a leading global enterprise before selling the business to Nestle in 2002.
 
Gary's philanthropic leadership at Cal began in the 1970s, and over the next decades he contributed generously to Cal Athletics, especially to men's and women's rowing, men's golf, men's and women's tennis, rugby, and football. A distinguished Builder of Berkeley, Gary also offered significant support to the Doe and Bancroft libraries, the Cal Alumni Association, the Haas School of Business, the UC Botanical Garden, and public research and engagement centers on campus.
 
He was also actively involved with leadership at Cal, serving as a trusted adviser to numerous chancellors dating back to the 1980s and, most recently, as a member of the UC Berkeley Board of Visitors. Additionally, he helped guide the UC system through his participation in the UC Regents Investment Advisory Group. For his years of dedication and service to Berkeley, he received the Bear of the Year Award, the Wheeler Oak Meritorious Award, and a Trustees' Citation.
 
Gary held numerous public service leadership positions and was the benefactor of the Rogers Family Foundation, which supports the University of California, education and activities for youth in Oakland and the East Bay, Bay Area hospitals, and bioscience research and innovation organizations. In addition, he served on the High Performance Olympic Committee for US Rowing and was an Eagle Scout, receiving the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America.
 
In the end, Gary was a proud son of California. He possessed boundless love and devotion for this university and Cal rowing — which shaped his worldview long after his days as a student-athlete. Recalling his crew days in a 2010 interview, he said that rowing "teaches you that what's important in life is that daily workout, that constant struggle to get ahead. And it teaches you that you really have to trust your co-workers. … It teaches you that it's not really important to be the hero. There are no heroes in crew. There is nobody that's better than anybody else."
 
The university will remember and honor the fervent respect and admiration he inspired in others. Cal rowing will forever be linked to his greatness and magnanimous spirit.
 
In addition to his wife, Cab '64, Gary is survived by his mother, Virginia; his brothers Don and Jim; and his sons, Andy '90, Matt, Brian '95, and John, and their families.
 
Per the request of the Rogers Family, gifts in Gary's memory may be made to the T. Gary Rogers Cal Crew Forever Fund online here or mailed to the address below. Please make checks payable to "UC Berkeley Foundation" and include "in memory of T. Gary Rogers" on the memo line.
 
University of California, Berkeley
Donor and Gift Services
1995 University Avenue, Suite 400
Berkeley, CA 94704