Nicholas Neal Rogers

As the sun rose over the Mediterranean Sea on the morning of 13 January 1966, residents of Tripoli, Libya heard the first sounds of a newborn infant.  It was immaterial that this child, Nicholas Neal Rogers, was an American visitor rather than a Libyan native.  Nick proudly acknowledged his US birth certificate possessed the unusual birthplace of “Libya.”  He allowed folks to assume a Middle Eastern heritage before explaining that his mom gave birth on Wheelus Air Base, considered US soil at the time in the friendly country of Libya.

His sense of humor and mischief grew, as he did, over the years.

Consequently, his sisters refused to pass through airport security lines by his side, seeking to avoid the “special” security searches.

Nick traveled as a “military kid” for 15 years living in places like Crete, Turkey, Virginia, and Ohio before returning to Panama City—home base for this world traveler.  As a young adult, Nick enlisted in the Army, spending most of those years in Germany.

 After an honorable discharge, Nick studied architecture at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Florida State University and later received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban Planning from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.  Nick loved learning and those who knew him were treated to lengthy pontifications on nearly any topic of interest.  Nick applied his practical education as a construction framer in Olympia where his beautiful son, Isaiah, was born.  Nick’s next big adventure was to Sekiu, Washington, a remote fishing village on the Straight of Juan de Fuca, across from British Columbia, Canada.  For years, Nick worked single handedly restoring an old hotel.  He made his own hours, often working all night.  Inasmuch as the building had water and electricity, Nick and his cats (no telling how many because word quickly spread on the feline network that a modern-day St. Francis inhabited the old structure) enjoyed this time of focus on his work and experimenting with design restoration.  In 2008, Nick returned once again to Panama City to launch his magnum opus:  construction of a beautiful three-story house that has proven to withstand a Category 5 hurricane by design.  Again, if you know Nick, you know that he poured his heart and soul into all of his work.

Nick’s next venture led to a mountaintop in Tennessee where he and friends began building an intentional community. Sadly, the vision of this sustainable project must go on without him as Nick unexpectedly succumbed to cancer on 2 December 2019.  Nick will be remembered by his friends and family as the long-bearded, soulful, brilliant mind and free thinker unencumbered by convention who lived his life as a spiritual friend to all living beings.

A celebration of Nick's life will be held Saturday, December 7, 2019 at Glendale Memorial Nature Preserve, 297 Railroad Avenue, DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32433 beginning at noon.