Mark Edward Rogowski

Mark Edward Rogowski of Woodbridge, Virginia died there unexpectedly May 28, 2019. He was born on March 13, 1957 in New Haven, Connecticut, and lived there until he moved to Virginia. He is survived by his children, Caitlin Jeanne of San Francisco and Nicholas Nauset, who lives with his wife, Olivia, in Indianapolis; a sister, Jeanne Nettleton and brother, Bruce Rogowski, both of Connecticut, and their families; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Edward Henry Rogowski and Antoinette Barnash Rogowski of Milford, Connecticut, and an infant son, Edward, who died in 1987.

A graduate of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut and a veteran of the United States Air Force, Mark was married to the former Nancy Warren (Armour) of Woodbridge, VA. He was an accomplished athlete and lifelong sports enthusiast. He was also a straightforward and passionate man who appreciated candor and had a soft spot for the underdog, both on and off the field.

Mark’s relationship with his family was both loving and complex and we are forever saddened by his tragic decision to leave us as he did. He was strong-willed and his death, though heartbreaking, reflects the way he always sought to live his life – deliberately and on his own terms. Each of us will remember the traits that made Mark unique and singular in our own lives. Nick recalls him as the “perfect dad” who taught him the honor of competing and the joy of winning. Caity said, “I’ll always remember him as the happy, yet snarky, beach-loving, baseball-watching dad in the cut-off Orleans t-shirt. He loved us all in a way that was complicated but strong, and though there was a lot about life that was too much for him, I know he also found ways to share joy with us.”

Mark had a special affection for the Cape Cod Baseball League, the nation’s premier collegiate training ground for big league hopefuls. He loved to arrive early and catch batting practice with Caity and Nick before settling in to watch from the bandstand in Orleans or the right field hill in Chatham. During the games, he was equally vocal with praise and criticism, keeping his fellow fans entertained and the players on their toes. It is hard to imagine the Cape League games, or any sporting event with teams that he loved, without Mark.

We will honor his wish to have his ashes scattered on the Cape, though that will almost certainly be a formality. We know that his spirit is already there, as it has been since he first visited as a boy and fell in love with the place. Through the years, the Cape was Mark’s refuge and he returned again and again for its beauty and solace. He is finally where he wanted to be.

Rest in peace, Mark.

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