It saddens me to know that we have lost Mr. Rogers. He was such a gentle, good man. My children grew up with his assurance that they were special, just the way they were. We will miss him.
My son, Mr. Macho was lifting weights one evening, and I happened to run across Mr. Roger's program. I had noticed that Lady Elaine Fairchild (the puppet at the Museum-go-round) didn't seem to be on the program. When Mr. Macho came upstairs, I said, "I think they've fired Lady Elaine Fairchild!" And worse yet, his face dropped. "They can't do that, can they?" No one was too old for Mr. Rogers. God bless you, Mr. Rogers. We liked you--just the way you were.
He was 74. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer right around Christmas. Because he was born and raised in nearby Latrobe and filmed Mr. Roger's neighborhood in Pittsburgh, his death has hit us very hard. Did you know he was a Presbyterian minister?
When I was young, I would sit there watching Mr Rogers for hours. It was wholesome TV, and I didn't enjoy all the violence in my brother's choices (Power Rangers, etc). We didn't have cable so my mom would get the neighbour to tape it for me when her kids watched it. Mr Rogers made me feel special and it was comforting to feel that. I'm very sad that he passed, but I am glad that he did not have to suffer any longer.
I loved Mr. Rogers as a child, and respected him greatly as an adult. He has done so much for so many children and devoted his life to all aspects of their entertainment, education, welfare and care. This is, indeed, very sad news.