OBITUARY David Rojay January 20, 1939 – October 17, 2018 David Rojay, 79, of Hyannis, MA passed away on Wednesday, October 17, 2018. He was born in Fairfield, IL on January 20, 1939 and named Jack R. Rodgers by his late parents Harold and Mary (Dickey) Rodgers. David was a proud US Army veteran stationed in Korea and Japan and was awarded the carbine marksman and rifle sharpshooter badges.
He played trumpet in the Army Band. David was a true musician; he played all instruments and sang everything from rock n’ roll to Opera, He was a member of the Jazz Musicians of Cape Cod and the Cape Cod Opera Company. For many years, his band, The Rojays, performed from California to Cape Cod.
He composed Top 40 songs as well as a record album entitled “Jerusalem”, a Peace Song that David presented to Israeli Prime Minister, Menachem Begin, and Egyptian President, Mohamed Anwar El Sadat. One of his treasured possessions is a letter from President Sadat thanking him for this song. David also composed a prayer, “Hamelech” which he performed with the Cape Cod Community College Choir at the Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial) Service.
David wrote a musical entitled Der Violinska Rebner which was performed at the Cotuit Center for the Arts. He wrote two short movies, the Merman’s Song and Mother’s Day. David was a storyteller, he kept you mesmerized with his stories.
He has written seven novels of Americana. David was a member of the Cape Cod Community Media Center for many years where he produced the Dan and Dad Show and the House of Israel. He produced and directed (with his wife, Karen, and son, Dan) the first Telethons for the Noah Shelter and the Jewish Federation of Cape Cod.
David had a strong and charismatic spirit, he could talk to anyone about anything, he will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him. In addition to his parents, David is predeceased by his step- father, Richard Mann, as well as his son Abraham Bashevis Rojay. He is survived by his loving wife Karen (Preston) Rodgers; his adored children, Daniel of Hyannis, MA; Rachel of Los Angeles, CA; Eliott of San Francisco, CA; Emory of Los Angeles, CA, and Samuel; his brothers Jim of Port St. Lucie, FL; Dennis of Delray Beach, FL; Gary of Orlando, FL and a sister Constance Danner of Orlando, FL.
David also leaves behind his five cherished grandchildren; Chris of Seattle, WA, Jake, Azuri, Uriel, and Jayden of Los Angeles, CA, and one great-grandchild, Eugene, of Seattle, WA. Visiting hours will take place Wednesday, October 24th from 5-7 pm at Doane, Beal, & Ames Funeral Home, 160 West Main St., Hyannis, MA 02601. Funeral services will be officiated by Cantor Bruce Malin at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 25th.
The Sweet Adelines will perform a tribute to David. Burial with Military Honors will immediately follow at Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Ave. in Bourne.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in David’s memory to the Jewish Federation of Cape Cod at PO Box 2568 Hyannis, MA 02601 or to the Noah Shelter at haconcapecod.org.
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