Pauline Jacobson Rogers
February 6, 1926 – August 22, 2025
Pauline was born on February 6, 1926, in Buffalo, New York as the youngest of seven children of David and Celia (Simma) Jacobson. David was born in Belz (present day Ukraine) and David was from Bessarabia in the Pale of Settlement. The Jacobsons emigrated with the name Fleischman around 1911. They were an Orthodox Jewish family, and, after changing their name to Jacobson during a brief stay in Cleveland, they relocated to Buffalo. There they settled on Hickory Street where they owned a small grocery store. This was later expanded, and they became a well-known distributor of Kosher products in the Buffalo area. One sister, Ida, died at age 5 from burns suffered in an accident.
When Pauline was in 3rd grade the family moved to Commonwealth Avenue in North Buffalo. She oved from Public School 32 to attend Public School 81. When she was 8 years old her mother died. Her father soon remarried, and Pauline gained a wonderful new mother, Tillie Davidson, and a stepbrother, Herbert.
In North Buffalo the family became members of the Orthodox synagogue Anshe Zedek. She resented being the only girl in Cheder and studying mafter with just boys, and convinced the family to join Temple Emanuel (now Shaarey Zedek) where she attended Hebrew and Sunday School. During those years, she was active in Habonim, became president of the Junior Congregation, and was confirmed under Rabbi Bohnen.
At least nine childhood summers were spent at the resort town of Crystal Beach on Lake Erie in Ontario, Canada. The family business extended to owning, developing, and working Jacobson’s, a popular kosher restaurant and delicatessen on the main street of the resort town. Pauline’s brother Irving lived with her there in the summers while other family members came in on weekends to help. They waited tables, worked the deli counter, explored the amusement park, went to the beach, and enjoyed the people and excitement. The older brothers and their wives, and later their families, would come over to Canada after working the wholesale foods business and take over in the evenings at the restaurant. The business continued for about 10 years until 1940 or 1941 when anti-Semitism reared its ugly head. Some young local residents began harassing them, throwing rocks and such, and threatening customers. Many Jewish people owned cottages while others spent vacations or made day trips to Crystal Beach. This terrible problem led the Jacobson family to sell out in or around 1942.
Pauline attended Bennett High School, and upon graduation worked in a bank. Later, with the support of her stepmother, she attended the University of Buffalo. While there, she joined, and later became president of, the Sigma Alpha Rho Sorority. She worked various summer jobs to earn money for tuition. After receiving her B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology in 1947. Her first job after college was as a case worker for the Erie County Department of Social Welfare.
Most importantly, Pauline was Introduced to Louis Rogers at a Policeman’s Ball (while on a blind date with someone else). She was taken by his looks, but nothing happened after (disappointing her). Then Lou asked a friend out for New Year’s Eve, but she already had a date (with her eventual husband). The friend offered to set him up on a blind date. When the friend called Pauline and told her who she wanted to set her up with she agreed right away, turning down other potential New Year’s Eve dates. So that turned into a double date and the rest is history.
Despite her father’s skepticism that Lou was Jewish, Pauline married Louis Rogers on September 19, 1948, at the age of 22. They were married over 71 years, until Lou’s death in January 2020.
In 1955 Pauline and Lou moved from their apartment on Hartwell Road in Buffalo to a new home at 299 Zimmerman Blvd in the Town of Tonawanda. They lived in that house for 22 years, eventually purchasing a condominium in Ransom Oaks in East Amherst, NY. While the children were young, Pauline was a substitute teacher in the Kenmore schools.
When the children started school, the family joined Temple Sinai (Reconstructionist), mostly because it was the closest temple and they only had one car. Pauline wanted to make sure that Cliff and Ken were in religious school.
Pauline and Lou joined Temple Beth Zion in 1961. They became members of the Young Marrieds. They had three 3 sons (Clifford, Kenneth, Donald) all of whom became Bar-Mitzvah and confirmed at T.B.Z. While the children were younger, she was active in the Evening Group of Hadassah. As program chairman, one of the more pleasant tasks was to produce, along with Gerda Klein, a play that Pauline had conceived. Later she became a life member.
Pauline was always ahead of her time. At age 39, when the children were in school full time, and against the wishes of Lou, she returned to college and received, through Geneseo State College, a master’s degree in library science (now known as Library Media Specialist). She became a School Librarian for the Kenmore- Town of Tonawanda Schools and helped establish the first three elementary school libraries there. Pauline taught in the Kenmore schools for 20 years.
After retiring from teaching Pauline received a call from TBZ Sisterhood president Ruth Fernandez asking her to accept a Board position. She gladly accepted and took on various responsibilities, including membership, Book Fair, Haven House and others. From 1989 through 1991 she became co-president of Sisterhood, along with Maxine Weissman and Myra Falk. Among their accomplishments was bringing sisterhood presidents or representatives, together, in a committee, from most all of the temples and synagogues. Together they hosted a Chanukah Party benefitting newly arrived Russian Jewish Women. She also attended the U.A.H.C. convention in Baltimore. In 2004 Pauline was named the Sisterhood Woman of the Year, and was honored at a special celebration in May of that year.
For about 30 years after Pauline retired the couple spent winters at a condo they owned at Covered Bridge in Lake Worth, Florida. They had an active social life there, especially with her sister Eva and other family, but were always happy to come "home" to East Amherst.
Eventually, because of health issues, Lou and Pauline gave up their condo in Florida and moved back to Buffalo full time. Pauline cared for Lou until he passed away in 2020 at the age of 96.
Pauline’s greatest joy was her family. In particular she loved her seven grandchildren Adam (Daniel), Erica (Spencer), Simon (Meghan), Jamie (Austin), Jason, Matthew, and Alex. She was blessed to have met her 8 great grandchildren and actually got to know them in person and virtually, mostly through the magic of FaceTime.
The death of her first born, Clifford, in January 2024, was especially difficult for her. But as with that challenge came her family rallying around her.
Even in her late 90s Pauline did what she could to stay active and involved. She had a regular weekly canasta game at her home, streamed Temple Beth Zion services after she could no longer attend, participated in TBZ Sisterhood, and enjoyed hot dog and hamburger holiday cookouts on her patio. Most of all she enjoyed visits from her friends and relatives. She was blessed to have dedicated and loyal aides who watched out for her, but for 15 hours each day/night she lived alone.
Pauline died on August 22, 2025 at the age of 99 ½. She died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones who gave her support until the very end.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, August 25th at 11 AM at Temple Beth Zion, 805 Delaware Ave., Buffalo 14209. View live stream at tbz.org. Shiva will be held Monday & Tuesday 7-9 PM at Pauline’s residence: 53 Old Meadow Dr., E. Amherst 14051. Food and flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made to Temple Beth Zion or Feedmorewny.org. Share condolences at mesnekoff.com