Antonio (Tony) Zoleta Rogado, 77, died Monday, April 6, 2020 at the NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn following a brief illness.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Hedy Tomas Rogado; his children, Abigail Rogado, Antonio Rogado and Aimee Rogado Mak (husband Joe); his sisters, Dr. Alice Rogado and Cynthia Rogado (husband Richard); his brother, Butch Rogado (wife Belle); his grandchildren Cupcakes Rogado and Aubree Isabella Rogado Mak; and many close friends and extended family.
Born and raised in Manila, the son of Gaudencio Borja Rogado and Concepcion Zoleta Rogado. He was the second child and their first son. Before his career in accounting, Tony was a photographer and still remained one of his passions throughout his life. He met his wife Hedy when he returned from the US and made a trip to San Pablo, one of the cities of the seven lakes. They married in January 1977 in Paco Park, Manila and moved to Brooklyn, NY shortly after, where he resided with his wife until his passing.
Tony lived a happy and beautiful life and took pleasure in the simple things. He was a kind and generous man who put his wife and children’s happiness above his own. He had a creative mind, which extended to many facets of his life. Tony was a creator and loved creating things, whether it be building a science project for one of his children, producing artwork or creating an indoor garden/jungle in his family’s living room—he was a MacGyver of all trades. Tony loved playing the piano and was self-taught. You could find him playing the piano at every family gathering and during most of his spare time, teaching himself new songs to play, by sound and not actually reading sheet music.
Tony was also an avid reader and his book collection rivaled those of libraries. His constant quench for knowledge was neverending, which he passed on to his children. He also loved traveling and was happiest when exploring different cultures and places with his family, especially his siblings. Tony really enjoyed life and was always smiling and laughing. His sense of humor brought joy to friends and family alike. He will truly be missed here on this earth, but know his spirit will always be with us.
To keep his spirit alive, family and friends can plant trees in his honor on their own or at Tree Nation.
A remembrance service will be held on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.