William E. Rogers Jr.
William E. Bill
Rogers, Jr., 66, of Bethlehem, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 10,
2012 at St. Lukes Hospital, Fountain Hill. He shared over 45 years of loving
marriage with his wife, Sandra (Accornero) Rogers. Born in Fountain Hill, Bill
was a son of William and Marjorie (Berger) Rogers, Sr., of Freemansburg. He
earned his Bachelors degree from the University of Virginia, and his Masters
degree in Education from Lehigh University. Bill was a teacher and baseball
coach in the Saucon Valley School District, retiring in 2002 after 35 years of
service. He was the winningest baseball coach in Hellertown/Saucon Valley High
School history, dating back to 1918, and was their head coach for 509 games over
24 seasons. He won 3 District XI championships, including a school record 20-win
season in 1999. Bill was also very active with the Northampton County American
Legion Baseball League, where he served as a manager, secretary, county
commissioner, and as a member of the executive and scholarship committees. He
was selected to the Northampton County Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania State Hall
of Fame, and received the leagues Presidents Award in 2011. In his leisure time,
Bill enjoyed travelling, watching his grandsons play sports, and coaching at
various baseball camps. Survivors: wife Sandra; daughters Sherry
Waldhausen and husband Gordon of Annville, Amy Rogers of Bethlehem; brothers
Kenny Rogers and wife Lynn of Freemansburg, Kelly Rogers and wife Cheri of
Freemansburg; brother-in-law Barry Accornero and wife Joanne of Huntington
Beach, CA; grandsons Cole, Neil, and Henry Waldhausen; and his nieces and
nephews and their spouses. Services: Funeral service at 10 a.m. Wednesday
at the Long Funeral Home, 500 Linden St., Bethlehem, 18018, where friends may
call on Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.
Contributions: to Northampton County American Legion Baseball League, c/o
John Tracy, 1015 Wood St., Bethlehem, PA 18018, for a scholarship to be
established in Bills memory.