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About Dick Rogers
Dick Rogers was a true Northwest Connecticut legend—born and raised in the area, a standout athlete, and a lifelong champion of community service.
Dick grew up in Litchfield, Connecticut, where he was a three-sport star for the Litchfield High School Cowboys. He went on to play basketball at UConn and later at Central Connecticut State University. After college, Dick eventually returned home to Northwest Connecticut, where he built a successful decades-long career in banking, including more than 20 years at Northwest Community Bank in Winsted, retiring in 2012.
A fierce competitor in everything he did, Dick brought passion, discipline, and heart to sports, work, and life. The bank’s close proximity to the Winsted YMCA proved fitting—Dick could often be found there before or after work, or during lunch, playing pickup basketball with friends in his signature Chuck Taylor high tops. He believed deeply in staying active and remained a regular at the YMCA well into retirement and right up until his passing in March 2025.
Where Dick truly shined, however, was in service to his community. Over the years, he volunteered with several organizations, including the Winsted Rotary and the United Way, but his greatest devotion was to the YMCA. He became involved with the Northwestern Connecticut YMCA in 1979 and went on to serve on its Board of Directors and Board of Trustees for more than four decades. Dick worked tirelessly to advance the Y’s mission, with a special passion for supporting underprivileged youth. In 2009, he was honored as only the fourth recipient of the YMCA’s prestigious Legacy Award—an achievement he cherished, though he often said, “It’s great to be recognized, but the real reward isn’t the recognition—it’s the positive impact that led to it.”
Dick was a lifelong sports fanatic who loved the Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns, and, of course, the UConn Huskies. Later in life, he took up golf, which he jokingly called “the hardest sport out there,” often admitting that it “got the best of me.”
Known for his larger-than-life sense of humor, incredible work ethic, deep faith, and loyalty as a friend, Dick was also a devoted family man. He was a loving father to his three children and their spouses, a proud uncle, and above all, a doting grandfather whose grandchildren were his greatest joy.
People like Dick Rogers don’t come around often. He was immensely proud of his roots in Litchfield and gave his time, energy, and heart to Northwest Connecticut. His legacy of service, integrity, and compassion lives on—and this tournament is held in his honor.