Lynbrook/East Rockaway's Person of the Year 2011: Denise Rogers

Inspiring,” “giving” and “hardworking” are just a few words family and friends use to describe local businesswoman and humanitarian Denise Rogers, 39, the branch manager of Astoria Federal Savings in Lynbrook and the executive vice president of the Lynbrook Chamber of Commerce. Her dedication to her family, her career, worthwhile causes and her community made her the Herald’s choice for 2011 Person of the Year.

“She’s very social,” said Denise’s husband, Tom Rogers. “She’s always getting involved in something, and she’s very energetic. She also gets the whole family involved.”

Denise Garin grew up in Rockville Centre, the second of three children. Her older sister lives in Arizona, and her younger brother, Oscar Garin Jr., who is disabled, lives with Denise and her family in Lynbrook, along with her father, Oscar. Her mother died a few years ago.

She met Tom Rogers in the early ’90s, and they were married in 1998. They moved to Lynbrook 12 years ago, where they are raising their three children, Thomas, 12, Christopher, 10, and Adela, 7.

“Denise is a good mother, and very dedicated to her family,” said chamber President Bill Gaylor, proprietor of Lyn Gift Shop, who has known Rogers for four years. “What I like about Denise is that she is a very professional administrator. That’s the type of thing I look for in making the chamber as successful as possible.”

Rogers was the organization’s vice president of membership before she became executive V.P., a position at which she excels, Gaylor said. “She is a capable person, and an easy person to work with,” he said.

Rogers has served as chairwoman of the chamber’s annual art auction, now in its second year, and the Taste of Lynbrook event, a popular fundraiser during which local restaurants and food services offer samples of their dishes. She has also worked with the Wounded Warriors Project, Patriots Weekend in Greis Park and the chamber’s Theater in the Park event.