The neighborhood will never be the same

On Thursday, America lost its greatest neighbor.

Fred Rogers, of the beloved children’s… On Thursday, America lost its greatest neighbor.

Fred Rogers, of the beloved children’s television series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” died in his Pittsburgh home of stomach cancer at age 74, leaving behind a legacy of tolerance, acceptance and comfort. His overarching credo was of accept and love yourself, then extend that love to everyone else.

It’s an especially heartbreaking loss for Pittsburgh: His neighborhood was our neighborhood. The show was produced just up Fifth Avenue in the WQED studio building. Rogers was born in Latrobe and spent most of his life here.

During the 33 years “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” was on the air, Rogers’ message remained constant. He never succumbed to pressure for gimmicks, never bowed to changing theories of children’s programming. He spoke to children as small people – not substandard adults – respectfully and with an eye toward their intelligence and unique outlook on life.

Every show began the same way – his constancy was soothing. He’d come in and immediately establish a homey setting by changing to sneakers and zipping up one of his signature red cardigans – one now hangs in the Smithsonian.

Rogers was a cultural icon to a vast section of the American public. It would be tough to find anyone today who doesn’t recall watching the tour of the crayon factory with delight and wonder. Most anyone could identify the “Trolley” theme and who could forget feeding the fish? The show was the most relaxing, engaging part of any kid’s afternoon lineup.

Those who had the privilege of meeting Rogers, be it in an official setting or a casual, unexpected neighborhood encounter, overwhelmingly agree that his personality was not an act. In life, as on the show, he was an amazingly tolerant, humble man. He was an example of humanity to all who crossed his path.

His was a message of peace and safety, reassuring adults as much as children. During the first Gulf War in ’91, he told viewers, “all children shall be well taken care of in this neighborhood and beyond – in times of war and in times of peace.”

Rogers led a life that was beyond reproach. He was an ordained Presbyterian minister and studied early childhood development here at Pitt. Even when Eddie Murphy parodied him on “Saturday Night Live” with his “Mister Robinson’s Neighborhood,” he had the grace and self-assurance to be flattered and amused, rather than fall into ugly, petty anger.

In an age where people are increasingly paranoid at the thought of adults taking great interest in children, Rogers was above the fray. The specter of inappropriate behavior was never raised, and rightly seems ludicrous.

Mister Rogers: There was no one in this world just like you. We loved you just the way you were. You are irreplaceable, and our neighborhood will never be the same.