Joanne Rogers, concert pianist and widow of television luminaryFred Rogers, has died.
Fred Rogers Productions confirmed the news to EW.
“I’m so grateful, for Fred’s sake, because he cared so much about his philosophy.
Credit: Scott Eisen/Getty Images
Such special people have come along who feel the way he felt.
I find things providential sometimes, and this seems like one of them.”
Sara Joanne Byrd Rogers was born March 9, 1928 in, Jacksonville, Florida.
Courtesy of Fred Rogers Productions
Rogers was a classically trained pianist, who studied under renowned Hungarian-American composer-pianist, Ernst von Dohnanyi.
They recorded two albums together.
While teaching music, Rogers was also involved in Fred Rogers' first television showThe Children’s Corneron PBS/WQED.
Beloved character Queen Sara onMister Rogers' Neighborhoodwas named after Joanne and her given first name.
“She was pure joy,” Heller told EW.
“You say ‘pure’ and it’s the same thing as what I feel about Fred.
People somehow think that means he wasn’t real if he was kind.
But she was so real, so human, so down-to-earth, sowithyou.”
She is survived by two sons and three grandchildren.
