James Roy Rogers Was Skilled Aviator, Builder

James Roy Rogers of Oak Bluffs died on Nov. 27. He was 55 years old.

Jim was born and grew up in Long Island, N.Y. At the age of seven he learned to fly small airplanes with his stepfather who owned a flight school on Long Island. He was a boy scout and played soccer for many years in school. After earning money over several seasons by clamming on the Great South Bay, at 16 he had saved enough to buy his first airplane, a Piper J-3 cub.

After graduating from Sayville High School he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He went into helicopter training in Fort Rutker, Ala. He became a warrant officer and went to Vietnam, where he flew hundreds of missions and survived being shot down many times. He was also a pilot for General William Westmoreland, who commanded the U.S. forces during the war from 1964 to 1968. After two tours of duty flying Bell Jet Ranger helicopters, he returned home and went to work for his uncles, who were builders on Long Island. He was married for a few years and had a daughter named Jennifer.

He then began working for a record manufacturer, and built a machine that enabled the company to recycle broken and rejected records. Just about that time he spotted a young woman filling out a job application; after seeing her, Jim ran into the personnel manager's office and said, "Hire that girl." That was how he met Andrea Bellusci, and a year later they were married. Jim went back into the military Reserves and flew helicopters again out of Newburg, N.Y.

Jim and Andrea left Long Island and moved to Fitchburg, where Jim managed a trucking company and created machines to unload chemicals safely and to recycle them productively. Jim transferred to the Army Reserves at the Fort Devons base and became the unit's safety officer.

Jim then went back into building houses, starting with friends in the Reserves, and had a long list of customers. He restored the first house that he bought with Andrea and sold it, then built a new house that they designed together. After selling that one in 1986 they came to Martha's Vineyard, and Jim built a beautiful home in Oak Bluffs. By this time he and Andrea had three small children, Jamie, Alisha and Joseph. Jim continued building homes all across the Island. After a few years, he transferred to the National Guard at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod, where he continued to fly helicopters.

He was a key figure in the aviation community on the Island. He started the Young Eagles program which introduced children to flying at the main airport. He was the president and one of the founders of the local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA).

With many years behind the yolk and under the hood of airplanes, Jim amassed a hefty list of flying credentials, including a commercial pilot license and an airframe and power plant license for working on airplanes. Jim's combination of flying and mechanical experience made him a talented aviation professional.

Jim was in the process of building a new row of hangars, and at the same time a very large house for a customer in Edgartown, when he died in a tragic plane crash at the airport. Jim was a loving husband and father. He was a great friend to all who knew him, and if someone was in need of help, he was the guy who came running.

In addition to his wife, Andrea, he is survived by his four children, Jennifer Turner of Centereach, N.Y., from his first marriage, and Jamie, Alisha and Joseph Rogers, from his marriage with Andrea. He is also survived by his mother, Elizabeth Worzel of Belleview, Fla.; his brothers, John Rogers and Guy Worzel of Florida; and his sisters, Diane Cunningham and Lisa Murphy of Florida. He was predeceased by his sister, Laurie Loftus, of Florida.

He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Harry and Tyra Brame and Jachelle, Jahmel, Tommie and Legend Turner, and his son in law, James Turner, all of Centereach, N.Y. Jim will also be missed by his nephews and nieces, Matthew, Philip and Vincent Braiotta, Domineque Poli and Stephanie Zuazner, as well as by their parents, Phyllis and Dom Braiotta of Nissequague, Long Island, N.Y., and Roseanna and Bruce Sevran of Huntington, Long Island. His mother in law, Gloria Bellusci, and he were predeceased by his father in law, Vincent Bellusci.

Jim's earthly remains were cremated and interment will be at the Oak Bluffs Cemetery this spring.