Few will deny that his neighborhood appeared to be caught in a Pollyanna world. And most adults would probably agree that no one could possibly live in a place that friendly and kind. But Fred Rogers had something special that isn't seen much anymore on TV or in life—he was a gentle person, the epitome of kindness, and he treated children with respect, telling them they were important, also.

In an interview I heard Fred Rogers say it wasn't important to emphasize who children should become in the future but to place importance on who they are now.

Those seem like very wise words to consider. If we were to stop for just a moment and reflect back on our own childhood, we would probably recall the importance that self-confidence played in our youth. Simple things like being picked first or last for team sports or being asked to eat with the popular kids or relegated to sitting with the dorky ones were all pieces of what formed our character and sense of self-esteem. So it seems that Fred Rogers' central theme, "Each child is special," might have been a much-needed boost for many a growing youth.

Although I never watched Mr. Rogers as a child, both my children were hooked on him. They took great comfort in his gentle nature and his low-key show, and I always knew my children were watching a safe program.

My son in particular enjoyed him. This was a child who refused to watch Sesame Street because he found the Count terrifying.

But like the characters on Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers talked about many life experiences, including death, getting an operation, bad dreams and even bullies. It was his delivery that made him unique. It was slow as molasses, and there were times when I couldn't sit through an episode, but not my children. They hadn't become hardened to the real world yet. And I'm glad for that, because with video games, slick cartoons, Nintendo, the Internet and all else in our "instant everything" world, I took solace in knowing there was a time in my children's life when the pace was slower and they relished it.

So I'm sad about the passing of Fred Rogers. He was a special man trying to keep things sane in a not-so-sane world. Some might say he was a fellow lost in the era of yesteryear. I only wish we had more of his kind left on the television, radio and Internet. I think Mr. Rogers was someone who helped keep us all in check and perhaps occasionally made us stop and think about what we do and how we affected others.

I know it worked for me during those years I watched the program with my children. Yet as my children grew up and moved into elementary school he quickly became a distant memory. But I believe some of what he said may have stayed with my children on a subconscious level. I never really wondered how much until I said to my daughter, "Isn't it sad that Mr. Rogers died?"

And she replied, " Mom, when my teacher mentioned it this morning in school I had tears in my eyes. I loved that show."

I would never have imagined my 14-year-old daughter feeling that way. But apparently he had that effect on many people. Because all day long I felt a little sadder and a little quieter inside knowing our planet had lost another very good person.

And if you think Mr. Rogers was only talking to children, consider this comment he made.

"We don't have to be geniuses in order to be of help to our neighbor. All we have to do is be ourselves and care about our neighbor, and that is how we make a difference in someone else's life," he once said.

That sounds like solid advice for anyone at any age and something we could all learn to live by.

Moryt Milo is the editor of The Willow Glen Resident. She can be contacted at 400.200.1051 or mmilo@svcn.com.