Looking over Rodger Allan’s life, you get a sense of an exceptionally vital and powerful man.
As a youngster, he attended G.B. Allan Elementary School in Hamilton, a school named for his grandfather. He stayed in Hamilton to get his degree at McMaster, then went on to a teaching career at Capreol H.S., Earl Haig S.S. in North York and Kirkland Lake C.V.I. – where he was principal.  Along the way he taught math to Angus Kerr Lawson who ultimately joined the Mathematics Faculty at the University of Waterloo, and Frank Rachich who later joined Rodger as a Descartes medallist.
Rodger was one of the best known mathematics educators in the province of Ontario. He was a superintendent for the Ministry of Education and Director of Education for two school boards, in Sudbury and Lincoln County. He never lost touch with his Hamilton roots, remaining a Tiger Cats fan all his life. Rodger coached football, and enjoyed curling, golf and bridge.
He was also very active in his community–lending his quick wit and talents to organizations such as the John Howard Society, the Niagara Child Development Centre, and the Alzheimer’s Society.