PORT TOWNSEND — “Doc Tony” made a huge difference during his 52 years, and about 500 of his friends came out on Thursday night to recognize that fact.
Anton “Doc Tony” Rogstad, who ran a pair of local veterinary clinics and an wildlife refuge, died on Aug. 1 after a heart attack.
The Chimacum man was 52.
“We all desire to have an impact on this life, however small,” said Sgt. Phil Henry of the stae Department of Fish and Wildlife, a colleague and a friend.
“Tony made his on a grand scale.
“He lived his life as he believed it, and his impact was profound.
“He has touched the lives of all of us in this room, making us better through his example of love, humor, passion and commitment.”
A smaller family memorial service took place on Aug. 6.
The public memorial ceremony was in McCurdy Pavilion on the grounds of Fort Worden State Park.
“The problem with wildlife rehabilitation is that the patients don’t have a lot of money and almost all of them have very poor credit ratings,” Henry said.
Said Michael Huesemann, who heads a German Shepherd rescue group for the North Olympic Peninsula: “He healed the animals who had no owner but God.
“He healed the animals of the poor who could not afford to pay, and healed them no matter if they were large and dangerous or small and insignificant.”
Rogstad’s family
Rogstad and his wife, Jeanette, who was sitting in the front row throughout the 90-minute service, had no biological children.
But his extended family included the thousands of animals he saved, along with five “soul children” he informally adopted.
“He was the father I never had,” said Erica Bell of Port Townsend.
“He taught me that no matter how bad things got, to never take it too seriously.”
“Tony and Jeanette never had any children of their own so they just go about adopting other people’s children and doing the things that good parents are supposed to do,” Haiden Roulst said.
“Everyone here can agree that he was not a normal person.
“He was more preoccupied with some bigger picture, linking time and space and molecular physics to the blues.”
Like many of the remarks, Roulst’s observations were met with subdued laughter.
Music
Guitarist Gregg Margarite provided a musical backdrop, and two songs.
The first, Tom Waits’ “Old 55,” was chosen by Margarite “because it is about a guy who wanted to hang around a bit longer.”
The second, played toward the end of the service, was the country standard “Old Blue,” about a recently deceased hound.
With most of the speeches and songs there was silence at their conclusion, but after “Old Blue” the crowd broke into applause.
Guests were encouraged to sign books where they could leave messages or just sign their names.
Brett Rogstad, the son of Rogstad’s brother, Peter, shared his own memories about his uncle and read a letter written by his father.
The letter recalled that among Rogstad’s first words as a child was the phrase, “buy me,” when he saw something he wanted.
But as he grew older and had the means to acquire possessions, “buy me” turned into “what can I buy for others.”
“‘I’ll call Tony’ is gone from our lives,” Peter Rogstad wrote.
“But we will always have ‘what would Tony do or say?’ to guide us.”
Rogstad operated Chimacum Valley Veterinary Hospital on Chimacum Road and the Pet Townsend animal clinic, which helped to finance the rescue operations.
Along with his wife, he ran TJ’s Wildlife Center in Chimacum, which handled thousands of wild creatures with 40 to 50 volunteers and six veterinarians involved.
At the family’s request, there were few flowers at the service. The family asked that donations go to TJ’s Wildlife Center instead.
Those who want to contribute can phone 360-385-4488 or visit www.chimacumvet.com.
________
Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
