Rodger Dawson
Talented teacher, joyful jokester, celebrated cyclist, happy husband, protective parent, gleeful grandad, and faithful friend- left us all on February 8th, holding hands with his soulmate Gwen, as they have done for the last 38 loving years. He spent his entire life exuberantly pursuing his many talents and passions, and inspiring others to do the same.
Born on April Fool’s Day in 1939 in Long Beach, the middle son between brothers Don and Chris, he was a fourth generation Californian. The family moved to Santa Maria and then Glendale, following their dad Lynn’s work in the lumber business. The three boys excelled in sports, attending Hoover High in Glendale, where Rodger lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track. With his natural charisma, he charmed his way out of consequences for his many pranks and mischief, including removing the Hoover principles’ door from its hinges (enforcing his “open door policy”) and making pies in Home Ec to sell to other students.
After marrying Jinny Webber, and having baby Eric, the couple moved to Santa Barbara in 1958 and attended UCSB where Rodger received his BA and MA. Always a dedicated athlete, he played college football then began competitive cycling in the days long before helmets and lycra. Ahead of his time in ultra sports, Rodger set a 1962 world record cycling from San Francisco to Los Angeles, riding 450 miles in less than 33 hours.
He had the foresight to buy land in Montecito in the 60s, and built his own redwood house in the 70s, which sadly burned down in the Sycamore Fire in 1977. Undaunted, he rebuilt in a matter of months, and enjoyed his hot tub, views and bike rides from his hilltop home.
Rodger was a gifted teacher and coach at San Marcos and Santa Barbara High Schools. In his 40 year career he mentored and inspired thousands of students teaching English, Humanities, and Self-knowledge. His love of ancient Greece was born when he and Jinny received Fulbright scholarships to Cyprus in the 60s. With their 3 young children they bought a VW camping van and travelled through Europe gaining a new world view to bring back to their teaching. With his own strong philosophy, he challenged his students to develop their own, with deeper thought than adolescents typically experience. His students nick-named him Rogocles Dawsonopolis due to his reverence for Greek culture.
During a brief tenure as tennis coach at San Marcos, he led his 1967 Royals Varsity Tennis team to an undefeated season, beating perennial champions, the Santa Barbara Dons, for the Channel League title. He challenged his athletes to dig deeper, but he also joked about teaching them “cheap shots” in order to win. Many other athletes benefited from his cycling knowledge when he founded cycling clubs at San Marcos and Santa Barbara High. Some went on to professional cycling careers. His 3 kids used bikes for transportation, learning independence early.
He coached his daughter Michelle for her first (and only) century ride during high school, and took son Eric on a challenging cycling camping trip. He continued to ride his bike into his 80s.Not content to follow established routines in education, Rodger co-founded the MAD Academy and the VADA Academy at Santa Barbara High. Despite pushing against accepted norms and ruffling administrative feathers, he received glowing teaching assessments every year. In his 70s Rodger brought his passion for photography into the digital age, winning awards for his photographs, and selling many pieces to Cottage Health and Glendale Adventist where they can be seen today.
Rodger was a loving father to his children (and their children), Eric (Geoffrey) Kristen (Brittany and Morgan), Michelle and Mike (Spencer and Summer) and stepson Jay (Rayna). He threw himself into all aspects of having fun. The annual trip to the pumpkin patch and carving pumpkins while eating roasted pumpkin seeds was a tradition his kids and grandkids will cherish. He was a vegetarian and health food nut before it was fashionable, so school lunches were never “cool” but were very nutritious. Even Cheerios were off limits due to preservatives. But boy did he love his McConnell’s ice cream! For his birthdays, Gwen planned Dawson family reunions including his 80th birthday bash at the Alisal which culminated with the whole dining room singing to him. His ability to connect to others was one of his many super powers, well known to those in his bike, book, wine and photography groups.
The great blessing of Rodger’s life was marrying Gwen. He became a beloved member of her family, bonding with her father Stuart Taylor, and siblings Clare (Jack) and Stuart Jr. (Sally) and their kids and grandkids at Taylor gatherings. As Noni and Grandy, they doted on their six lucky grandchildren. Gwen and Rodger shared a deep appreciation for their bountiful life together from sunset margies in their garden to wonderful trips abroad.
He would tell Gwen she was the most beautiful woman in the world, and later said she was the best cook he ever knew, which was hilarious to Gwen and her friends as he did most of the cooking.
His many passions would fill a book, but it must be said he was the original Steve Jobs fan and, like Forrest Gump, he invested in a “fruit company” called Apple. He loved walking to Mission Creek and on the beach with Gwen, admiring his roses, riding up Mountain Drive and Gibraltar, fine wining and dining, cranking the Beatles and Elvis in his media room, driving his M3, perfecting his pictures on Photoshop, and most of all- spending time with his dear ones.
We will remember his beautiful smile and the twinkle in his eyes and his daily appreciation of the beauty around him. His bear hugs will be missed more than words can say.
A celebration of life is planned for early spring.
If desired, donations in his memory may be made to the VADA Academy: vadasbhs.org
I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am Free. -Nikos Kazantzakis
