By Rich Mckay
Orlando Sentinel
Copyright 2007 Sentinel Communications Co.
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — For three days, John Steven Rogers’ friends and family prayed that the longtime Seminole County firefighter and paramedic would wake up and be well. But he never did.
Rogers, 47, a well-known firehouse prankster and good-deed-doer, died at Orlando Regional Medical Center on Monday night about five hours after his family agreed to let doctors remove life-support.
He was in a motorcycle accident early Saturday morning on his way to meet friends for breakfast.
Lynette Rogers of St. Cloud said her son was wearing his helmet but still suffered massive head trauma after apparently hitting a patch of sand and losing control. He never regained consciousness.
“I knew that firemen were close, but I’ve never seen so many grown men just crying, " his mother said. “I can’t believe the outpouring.”
She said that her son had a good life, doing exactly what he wanted — helping people.
John Rogers was born in Oregon, but moved to Florida as a youngster. He grew up in Fern Park.
For more than 25 years he worked as a firefighter in Seminole County, serving as a spokesman for many years. For the past four years, he served at Station 11 in Altamonte Springs. During his career, he earned countless commendations, organized safety programs and even got the department to buy miniature air masks a few years ago so firefighters could resuscitate pets saved from fires.
He went on that mission after a human oxygen mask didn’t fit a dog named Meatloaf back in 2004.
In May, Rogers boasted on a firefighters blog about how his friends at Station 27 in Winter Springs saved a soaked and singed puppy named Macaroni.
But he also had a prankster side. He was known to switch nametags, secretly re-decorate offices and even trick those who should know better, said his friend Lt. Tim Grenz, a fellow firefighter.
“He called up the coordinator of Red, Hot & Boom, the fireworks thing for the Fourth,” Grenz said. “He says, `Hey, I really hate to bother you but we got a real problem, call me back.’ ”
And of course, everything was fine.
Rogers also is survived by his father, George H. “Joe” Rogers of St. Cloud; brother, Joseph Rogers of Charlotte, N.C.; sister, Robin Friend; and a nephew. Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, East Altamonte Chapel, Altamonte Springs, is handling arrangements.