Orlando, Fla. — Joanne Byrd Rogers, the widow of children’s television host Fred Rogers, died Thursday. She was 92.
Sara Joanne Byrd was born March 9, 1928, in Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from Landon High School in 1946 and then attended Rollins College, here in Orlando. She met Fred McFeely Rogers while both were attending Rollins College.
She later earned a master’s degree in music for the piano from Florida State University in 1952, according to the Tallahassee Democrat reported.
They were married in New York City and moved to Pittsburgh in 1953, when Fred Rogers joined WQED and hosted “The Children’s Corner,” according to WPXI.
Joanne Rogers, an accomplished concert pianist who nurtured the memory and legacy of husband Fred Rogers after his 2003 death, has died at 92. Joanne and Fred Rogers were married for more than 50 years. https://t.co/O5Z9GOLDp3
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 14, 2021
Cox Media Group