A Belated Farewell, But He Would've Understood: He Always Loved Me Just the Way I Am

The Magic of Mister Rogers

Henrietta Pussycat, King Friday XIII, Queen Sara, Prince Tuesday, X the Owl, Lady Aberlin, Chef Brockett, Lady Elaine Fairchilde, Mr. McFeely, Daniel Striped Tiger—these characters were more than just puppets; they were friends who made our world a little brighter. To this day, when one of us gets a bit too self-righteous, the other will quip, "Correct as usual, King Friday."

Crystal Thomas from Statesboro once wrote in a eulogy, "As a latch-key kid in the '80s, I can remember coming in from school and turning on Mr. Rogers. Hearing his voice made the house not feel so empty. I felt very safe. We have lost an angel on this earth."

A Personal Connection

I wasn't a latch-key kid in the late '60s when my oldest son and I watched "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" every afternoon. I was a young married woman with a husband in medical school, rarely home except to sleep. We had no money, no car, no dryer, and were far from family. My days were filled with the typical chaos of raising a two-year-old. By 5 PM, both my son and I were exhausted, longing for "Daddy" to come home, which wouldn't be for hours. It was definitely time for Mister Rogers. My son would crawl into my lap, a tired little bundle, and we would both be mesmerized.

Mister Rogers made the house feel less empty. He was often the kindest voice I heard all day. While "Sesame Street" hyped up my son, and "Captain Kangaroo" had elements that scared him, Mister Rogers was a calming presence.

The Legacy of Fred Rogers

Fred Rogers stood for what he believed in. One of his quotes that I hold dear is: "At the center of the universe is a loving heart that continues to beat and that wants the best for every person. Anything we can do to help foster the intellect and spirit and emotional growth of our fellow human beings, that is our job. Those of us who have this particular vision must continue against all odds. Life is for service."

In a world that prizes machismo, he was gentle; in a culture devoted to noise, he was quiet; in a country addicted to self-aggrandizement, he was modest. His show was anti-television—slow, calm, and predictable. Bo Emerson of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote, "In a world that prizes macho, he was gentle; in a culture devoted to noise he was quiet; in a country addicted to self-aggrandizement, he was modest."

Tom Junod, who profiled Rogers for Esquire magazine, said, "What he tried to do was bring human values to a really unhuman medium, and he fought tremendous battles to do so."

The Impact of His Message

Shortly after his death, GPTV broadcast a rerun of a Mister Rogers show on the theme "noisy and quiet," symbolizing his lifelong mission. He told his listeners that sometimes they might see television with people shooting and hitting one another, television that was loud and scary. "Whenever you see scary television, you can do something about it," he said, peering intently at the camera. "You can turn it off. Then you can show you're the strongest of all."

Would that we could, Mister Rogers, would that we could.

A Lasting Influence

"Misser Boggers is dead," Emily Redmon emailed her brother in Canada, using their childhood name for him. I wonder how many other names he had with the children of the land.

Vincent Woods remembered Mr. Rogers speaking at his North Carolina State University graduation in 1996. "He had the entire stadium of 40,000 people singing 'Won't You Be My Neighbor?'"

When I read the news of his passing, I was at my son's house. He's grown now, a father of two, and owns his own business. I stared at the computer. "What was the name of the tiger?" I asked. "Daniel Striped Tiger," he said immediately, turning away. I could've sworn there were tears in his eyes.

Simone Presley of Dublin, Georgia, wrote, "I, along with millions of others, grew up in his neighborhood... and we all knew him as the kindest, gentlest man that we would ever meet... who will replace him? America has been so blessed to have one such as he to care enough for the children to give them values that they can rely on forever."

I join Simone Presley in saying, "You are remembered dearly, Mr. Rogers... see you in the New Neighborhood."

Interesting Stats About Mister Rogers

• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood aired for 31 seasons, from 1968 to 2001, making it one of the longest-running children's television series in history (PBS).
• Fred Rogers won four Daytime Emmy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy Awards).
• The show featured 895 episodes, each meticulously crafted to address the emotional and developmental needs of children (IMDb).

Conclusion

Fred Rogers' legacy continues to resonate with millions, offering a timeless message of kindness, understanding, and emotional intelligence. His gentle voice and compassionate heart made the world a better place, one neighborhood at a time.