Anthony 'Tony' Donald Rogers, Sharon, passed away peacefully at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, February 28, 2012, with his family at his side in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System after an extended illness. He was 79.

Mr. Rogers was born February 29, 1932 in Sharon the only son of the late Peter and Angeline Necastro Rogers.

A lifelong Sharon resident, he attended the former Sacred Heart Parochial Grade School; was a 1950 alumnus of Sharon High School; and received a bachelors degree in mathematics from Youngstown State University.

He then served with the US Coast Guard during the Korean Conflict and later became a member of the Hickory VFW, Post 6166, Hermitage; and the American Legion, Post 299, Sharon. Tony retired in 1984 as an electrical engineer from the former Sharon Transformer Division of Westinghouse Electric Corp. where he was employed for 28 years. Following his retirement, he was a consultant engineer for five years with ABB, Inc., Pittsburgh.

Tony was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Church, Sharon. He also belonged to the Italian Home, Farrell, and was a member of the Shenango Valley Chorale. Tony was a member and longtime volunteer at the former F.H. Buhl Club, Sharon, where he was a racquetball and handball champion. He also enjoyed golf, running, snow skiing, fishing, weight lifting and working with leather. Although he had many interests and hobbies, his family was his primary concern and focus. Tony loved spending time with his grandchildren and attending their scholastic and athletic events. He had a great love for Buhl Park, where he would often take walks, and enjoyed spending time there with his children and grandchildren. They will all miss their Papa dearly; however, knowing he is in God's care brings much comfort.

Surviving are: his wife, the former Veronica M. Tallarico, whom he married January 19, 1957 in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Farrell; five daughters, Kathleen Schweiss and her husband Mark; Patricia Shaffer and her husband Michael; Mary Jo Rahn and her husband Michael; Lynn Piccirilli and her husband Michael; and Angela Brown and her husband Daniel, all Sharon; three sons, Anthony M. Rogers and his wife Cindy, Gorham, Maine; David J. Rogers and his wife Michelle; and Timothy J. Rogers and his companion Anne Gentile, all Sharon; and 26 loving grandchildren.

Besides his parents, Tony was preceded in death by four sisters, Mary Esposito, Betty Bour, Dorothy Garm and Florence Rogers.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Buhl Community Recreation Center, 28 N. Pine St., Sharon, PA 16146; or to the Sharon School District Backpack Program, Attention Alice Connelly, 1129 E. State St., Sharon, PA 16146.

Calling hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 4, 2012, in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.

Mass of Christian burial will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 5, 2012, in St. Joseph Church, Sharon, with the Rev. Glenn R. Whitman, pastor, as celebrant.

Interment: St. Mary Cemetery, Hermitage, with military honors rendered by the honor guard from the Hickory VFW, Post 6166, Hermitage.