Otis A. Rogers Jr., a lifelong resident of Oak Bluffs and longtime volunteer firefighter who served his community, died peacefully on January 26, just shy of his 93rd birthday.

Born in Oak Bluffs on January 30,1923, he was son of Otis A. and Mary (Veira) Rogers Sr. Otis was a proud man of simple means who cared deeply for his children, grandchildren, extended family, and this Island, which was his only home.

Otis was constantly on the move, and transportation was at the heart of all he enjoyed. When he was a very young boy, Otis would pull his wagon and collect pine needles for the family’s animals, and then travel around the highlands to sell his father’s fresh vegetables and flowers. Through his many interactions with the families in that area, when he was a young man he was offered a job as a seasonal chauffeur. During that time, he had many jobs, which enabled him to purchase the various Model A’s that he and his friends would put together and use to enjoy the road.

In 1945, he met the love of his life, Mary Kidder Rogers, and in 1947 they married. She spent the next 69 years riding at his side.

Shortly after his marriage he and his brother Everett started Rogers Freight & Trucking. Again behind the wheel, he hauled rocks for jetties, grain to the farms, alcohol to the package stores, and undertook many unusual moves of household furnishings that kept him busy driving on and off the Island. During the winter months he sanded and plowed the roads.

Otis called himself a backyard mechanic, but he had great knowledge of engines, and he enjoyed the mechanics that went along with a vehicle. That lead him to Old Colony Motors in Edgartown, where he was a parts specialist. Missing the action of being behind the wheel made him decide to start his own business, Rogers Taxi Service. This gave him an outlet to pass his knowledge of the Island on to his patrons.

To make ends meet during the off season, he drove a school bus for 22 years for Island Transportation. His passion for driving would carry over to the many students he taught to drive at Mr. Adams’ driver education course. Of course, he was also the instructor for his three grandchildren — Grandpa would never say no.

For 40-plus years he served his community as a proud Oak Bluffs volunteer fireman, serving in positions from fireman to captain. He also served on the Oak Bluffs finance board. For many summers he could be seen at the Oak Bluffs Harbor, attending to the surrounding grounds in the very early morning before starting his driving day. He sold the taxi business and retired in 1999. By then he had passed his love of all things moving on to his son Russell, whose excavation business would once again provide another outlet for Otis to get behind the wheel.

He loved everything about his Island home, but nothing more than a freshly caught quahog, clam, or anything seafood. When his children and grandchildren would talk about adventure away from the Island, he would brush it off and say, “What do you want to do that for? You live in God’s country.”

Otis was a religious man of the Catholic faith who could be seen many a Sunday as an usher at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs.

He was predeceased by his wife Mary this past November, and his brother Everett Rogers, and sisters Genevieve Eddy and Shirley Law.

He is survived by his son Russell Rogers; and his daughter Nancy Giordano and her husband Richard; grandchildren Daniel A. Rogers and his wife Kimberly; Leanne (Giordano) Bartkowski and her husband Jeffrey, and his grandson Michael, who happened to be born on his grandfather’s birthday. He is also survived by his loving sister Lorraine Mavro and her husband Richard, along with many nieces and nephews.

His funeral mass will be held Thursday, January 28, at 11 am in St. Augustine’s Church, Franklin Street, Vineyard Haven. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Pacific Avenue, Oak Bluffs.

Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown Road, Oak Bluffs. Visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.

Donations in his memory can be made to Good Shepherd Parish, P.O. Box 1058, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or the Oak Bluffs Firefighter’s Association, P.O. Box 2131, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.