CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WKBW) — It has been 27 years since William Rogers retired as the Music Choral Director at Maryvale High School in Cheektowaga, but his former students never forgot him. They surprised him with a concert on his 85th birthday.
Rogers served in that position over the course of four decades, working at the school from 1962 until 1998.
For this long-time educator’s 85th birthday, dozens of his former students got together for months, planning a surprise concert for him to mark the milestone.
“You almost couldn’t find anybody that went to Maryvale, when I went to Maryvale, that didn’t have him as a teacher and wasn’t part of the choir,” Maryvale Alumna and former Music Director Ann Mosner said.
“The thing about my dad is I can’t go anywhere with him, store or restaurant, where somebody doesn’t come over to say hi to him. That is a testament to his goodwill in the community,” Rogers son, Bill Rogers, said. “Very proud to be his son, especially in moments like these.”
