Sebastián Lasaosa Rogers

Sebastián Lasaosa Rogers, 35, died while surfing off Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York, on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Born in New York City in 1990, he spent his first four years in Mexico City and moved to Concord in 1994 with his parents, Paul and Rosa, and his little sister Elena. He graduated from Concord-Carlisle High School and spent a gap year teaching in Tanzania. He earned his bachelor’s degree in archaeology and film in 2012 from Vanderbilt University. His film career launched at Vanderbilt when he was asked by Ken Burns and Florentine Films to be an intern on the documentary “Country Music.”

His other passion was social activism. He protested against water bottles on campus, endowments invested in South African land deals, war, Wall Street, and many other issues. He worked tirelessly for workers’ rights, helping Latin American laborers negotiate with small contractors around Nashville to receive their weekly paychecks and Vanderbilt service staff to become full-time employees. He also volunteered on mobile food trucks, bringing fresh vegetables and other provisions to food deserts in Nashville.

Sebastián moved to Brooklyn in 2015, continuing his career in film as a freelancer. His work can be seen online at Vimeo, Art21, PBS, and on his website, sebastianlr.com. He was the cinematographer on the film “The Art of Making It,” which screened at various film festivals and won the audience award at the SXSW Film Festival in 2022.

His latest project, “Freeing Juanita,” premiered at the Mexico City Film Festival in October 2024 and will have its U.S. West Coast premiere in May. It will also screen at the New Jersey International Film Festival on June 1, 2025, in person and virtually.

Sebastián leaves behind his family, Paul, Rosa, and Elena; his aunts, Helene and Caroline; his partner Caitlin; Elena’s partner Dalton; and many cousins in Concord and around the United States, Canada, and Spain. He also leaves behind an enormous group of friends and colleagues across the world in film, social activism, surfing, and life. His joyful spirit, dedication, and interest in everything he did and everyone he met were endless. A recurring phrase that occurs from the many tributes that have come in is, “He was the best of us.”

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 11:00 am at the First Parish in Concord, 20 Lexington Road, Concord, MA. 

We’re sure Sebastián would appreciate donations to your favorite causes.

Arrangements under the care of Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, MA 01742 978-369-3388 www.concordfuneral.com