Richard "Rick" Joseph Rogowski's Obituary
“In a bed, in a bed/By the waterside I will lay my head/Listen to the river sing sweet songs/To rock my soul.”
~ The Grateful Dead, Brokedown Palace
Richard Joseph Rogowski (Rick), 48, adoring husband, proud father, and amazing traveling companion, left this Earth far too soon on Friday, August 11, 2023. Rick was the kind of person who got into your heart and never left, and his loss is felt deeply by all who knew him.
Rick was born on October 9, 1974, in Buffalo, NY to Rosanne and Craig Rogowski. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from SUNY New Paltz. In 1992, while at SUNY Oneonta, he met Marianne Clark from Poughkeepsie, NY, and on June 29, 1996, they were married. Together they and their two amazing children, Roman and Alea, adventured through life together. For many years, Rick owned and operated Village Paws and Claws, a retail pet and grooming shop in Mooresville, NC. It was a place where people came in to shop for pet supplies, but almost everyone would stick around and shoot the breeze for a bit with him. Rick was a brilliant, compassionate, and beautiful soul with a big heart, a boisterous laugh, and an entirely contagious zest for life felt by anyone lucky enough to cross his path. Accepting of all people, you only had to tell him your name once, and he would remember you forever (and probably Google your voting record as well). He followed his own rules, wore many different hats (literally), and on occasion, could be seen dressed in tie dye from head to toe. Rick would stay up all night talking to you, always get you home safely, and took time to notice the beauty of life. He loved history, travel, festivals, music, art, his luscious locks, and beautiful mountain top sunrises. He had a gift for making others feel welcome and at ease, and his zany antics earned him the affectionate nickname “The Laughing Boy.”
Rick was preceded in death by his father, Craig Anthony Rogowski, Buffalo, NY. Surviving are his wife of 27 years, Marianne Rogowski, Huntersville, NC; two children, Roman Rogowski, Huntersville, NC, and Alea Rogowski, Cary NC; mother, Rosanne Orban and husband Chris, Alpena, MI; sister, Rebecca Rogowski, Buffalo, NY; brother, Dominic Rogowski and wife Dana (West Seneca, NY); grandmother, Lucia Schipani, Lackawanna, NY; cousin and festie bestie, Chris Gugliuzza, Huntersville, NC; dog Eleanor “Elly” Roosevelt and cat Barack “Mango” Obama; and 16 nieces and nephews, as well as many cousins and beloved friends.
Calling hours will be held on Friday from 4-7 PM at the James Funeral Home, 10520 Arahova Dr, Huntersville. The Celebration of Life service will be led by Father Larry Evans II at the James Funeral Home on Saturday at 11:00 AM with a reception to follow. Whether you dress in formal, casual, or festival attire, we encourage everyone to wear something that would make Rick smile. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the March for Our Lives Foundation (https://secure.everyaction.com/45zW1UMUqUycXs7bfGH8gA2).
James Funeral Home, of Huntersville, is serving the family and obituary lovingly written by the family.
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