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Mister Rogers will be missed

Part of our childhood died last week.

Fred Rogers, best known for his long-running children’s show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” died at 74 of stomach cancer. His PBS show ran for more than 30 years. His last original show aired in 2001, but reruns have kept Mister Rogers on television for children today.

The distinctive sound of the trolley and the familiar sight of Mister Rogers changing into a cardigan sweater and sneakers are part of U.S. culture. One of Mister Rogers’ sweaters was even donated to the Smithsonian Museum.

The show’s theme song, sung each day by Mister Rogers, is a classic. Everybody knows the words. “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine?”

As cartoons and fancy children’s programming came and went, Mister Rogers stayed the same: a comforting voice to children, who delivered simple messages. While consoling children on how to deal with the death of a pet or just telling children it was OK to be themselves, Mister Rogers also allowed us to indulge in make-believe. Each episode, the trolley took a trip to the Neighborhood of Make- Believe, complete with puppets like King Friday and Daniel Striped Tiger, many voiced by Rogers himself.

Rogers’ soothing manner endeared him to audiences. Though thousands of children grew up watching him, Rogers never let fame go to his head.

“I have never considered myself a TV star,” Rogers said in 1995. “I always thought I was a neighbor who just came in for a visit.”

Thanks for being our neighbor for so many years.