TORONTO (NEWS1130) - Ted Rogers is being remembered as a family man and a visionary. The communications pioneer passed away at his Toronto home early this morning at the age of 75. The man was best described as "relentless."

Chances are, if you have used a wireless device like a cellphone, Blackberry, or iPhone, it has the Rogers name stamped on it.

But before he took the leap into cellular communications, he pioneered cable television in this country and before that, he took a gamble on a fledgling radio technology known as FM, starting his empire with a single Toronto radio station in the early 60's.

Rogers came from humble beginnings and his life was transformed when he was just five-years old, when his father Ted Rogers senior passed away.

In a recent interview, he called it the turning point that would influence all his future decisions.

"Because if he'd lived, I might have been just a spoiled brat, and wouldn't have the drive and ambition I've had during my lifetime to win back his name and reputation."

Rogers made it his life's work to keep that name going in Canadian communications. Today he leaves behind holdings including Rogers Wireless, the Toronto Blue Jays, Macleans Magazine, the CityTV and Omni Television networks, and more than 40 radio stations across the country, including News1130.

Rogers is survived by his wife, Loretta,and their four children, Edward, Lisa, Melinda and Martha.

bummer! he was quite the man.
I invested in his company mostly cos' of him personally,
maybe time to sell those particular shares.
R.I.P.

Good riddence. Maybe now we can get so competion within the Cable market. Ted Rogers was bad for Canada.

well he was good for shareholders in his company. Attention: REGISTER / LOGIN to view the image!

right, let's mourn the guy that figured he'd just add to my cable bill unless I said no really loud. also, with rogers wireless, they tacked on to my contract length everytime i made a plan change. Confronting them, they said, i should have known to say, "don't tack on" each time and they also refused to go back to original end date, saying i would have to take legal action against them to even try.

(later this contract length extension was found to be fradulent by a legal challenge by a toronto woman. Didn't help me tho'

I won't miss him. He made a fortune charging too much. Actually that is mean. But true. I am sure he was a decent and smart fellow.

The trash that occupy DDV have a lot to learn from this man's example.

Instead of wasting all his time being bitter about his humble beginnings and his loss, he worked his ass off and created an empire. Instead of wasting his time blaming others for his troubles. He made something of his life.

Let's hope Duce is taking this time off DDV, so he can re-evaluate his life.