Fifty years after the iconic children’s show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” made its debut on national public television, its creator, Fred Rogers, is back in the spotlight.
In March, the U.S. Postal Service issued Mister Rogers postage stamps, and a critically acclaimed documentary film, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” was released last month.
“You Are My Friend,” a feature film starring Tom Hanks, is scheduled to begin shooting in Pittsburgh in the fall.
For Aiken resident Beth Newburn, all the attention Rogers is receiving brings back fond memories because she knew him personally.
“He was the epitome of a true gentleman, very compassionate, always unhurried and showing sincere interest in every individual he met,” Newburn said. “His thin, lilting voice created a sense of calmness. As someone said, ‘Fred Rogers’ voice literally lowered the anxiety level of those around him,’ and I would certainly agree.”
Newburn and her husband, Bob, met the avuncular host of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood” when he visited Aiken in October 1995.
Back then, Rogers’ good friend, Jim Stumbaugh, lived next to the Newburns on Brookline Drive.
Stumbaugh was terminally ill, and about a week before his death, Rogers came to see him.
Stumbaugh and Rogers had been high school classmates in Pennsylvania, and they became pals after Stumbaugh was hospitalized because of a football injury.
Rogers, who was chubby and shy, brought the popular athlete his homework, and the two teenagers discovered that their personalities, while different, meshed well.
When Stumbaugh returned to school, he took Rogers under his wing and made it clear to the other students that his new buddy was someone worthy of their interest.
“Fred said that Jim’s doing that made all the difference in the world for him,” Beth said. “By the time Fred was a senior in high school, he had become the president of the student council and editor of the yearbook largely because he had someone who believed in him and wasn’t afraid to say so.”
Before Rogers’ visit to Aiken, Beth had spoken briefly to him when he called the Newburns’ house one Christmas Day while Stumbaugh and his wife, Dianne, were there to eat dinner.
“Hearing his voice added such a special treat to that Christmas,” Beth said.
Later, when the Newburns met Rogers on a Sunday night in 1995 at the Stumbaughs’ home, the circumstances were far from merry, but Beth said she found him to be “just like he was on television.”
The next day, Beth drove Rogers to the airport in Augusta.
“He had hurt his leg, and he had to keep it stretched out, so he sat in the backseat with his metal crutch,” Beth said. “Bob couldn’t go, so I called Betty Ryberg first to ride with us, but she had a conflict, so I called Pat Andringa.”
While Rogers was waiting for his plane to arrive, his presence created quite a stir.
“There were families with children, and you could hear them saying, ‘Mommy, Mommy, it’s Mr. Rogers,’” Beth said. “Betty Ryberg must have realized that whatever she was doing wasn’t as important as seeing Mr. Rogers, so she showed up at the airport. That was before security was so tight, and I have a picture of her on her knees talking to him while he was sitting with his leg stretched out.”
After Rogers’ visit to Aiken, he and Beth began a correspondence and became sort of like pen pals.
“I was like a kid when I would go to the mailbox and see something from him,” she said. “I’ve got all these notecards with the trolley from his television show on them. The notes were written to me, but always said, ‘Remember me to Bob,’ and he often thanked us for being gracious neighbors to his good friends, the Stumbaughs. He was a very thoughtful person.”
In 2002, Rogers made an appearance in Columbia. Beth and Andringa attended the dinner he spoke at, and so did Ryberg and her husband, Greg, Beth said.
At Rogers’ invitation, Andringa and Beth met with him afterward.
“We had a nice visit,” Beth said.
Rogers died in February 2003.
“I was watching the news on TV when I learned of his death at age 74 from stomach cancer,” Beth said. “I was stunned to say the least. He was a man who never smoked, never drank and didn’t eat meat.”
In addition to her letters from Rogers, Beth has other reminders of their friendship. They include books and a cover of Esquire magazine featuring his photo that he signed.
She also keeps in touch with Rogers’ widow, Joanne.
“I emailed her recently and told her we had seen the documentary ('Won’t You Be My Neighbor?') in Augusta,” Newburn said. “It was certainly true to the Fred I knew and the communications I had with him. It was well-done.”
Want to go?
WHAT: "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"
WHERE: Regal Augusta Exchange Stadium 20 & IMAX - Map
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