This Friday will mark the end of an era. One of America’s most enduring, endearing, and influential broadcasters will say goodbye to the nation’s children. Fred Rogers, 73, has been on the air entertaining and reassuring America’s youth since 1968. After 33 years in the business, he is hanging up his cardigan sweater for the last time.

Rogers designed the show with the express intent of giving children a comfortable place to go. Its format has not changed since its debut.

The show’s repetitiveness and familiar routines provide children with order and stability, which they may not receive at home.

Testaments to this are seen every time he goes out in public. Complete strangers approach him often to thank him for his influence on their childhood.

Even hardened criminals have a soft spot for Mr. Rogers. Rogers’ car was stolen once, only to be returned unharmed the next day. A note on the dash read, “We didn’t know it was yours.”

Rogers’ research in child psychology influenced his mannerisms, particularly his speech pattern. He purposely talked in slow, soothing tones.

“They were always after me to speed up, but I wouldn’t do it,” Rogers said in a TV Guide interview.

Rogers was never in the business for the money. He has repeatedly turned down endorsement deals and refused to sell his name. He has kept his show on public television for its duration.

He has never owned a new car. He has lived in the same apartment in Pittsburgh for 20 years with his wife Joanne.

Rogers will keep busy developing ideas for the Internet, including a site on which he would read bedtime stories to children over streaming audio.

He also plans to continue his contributions to two websites – www.pbs.org/rogers, a site for children, and www.misterrogers.org, a site for parents.

“Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” will continue to air on PBS in reruns. The station has over 1,000 episodes in its vaults and does not forsee ending the show’s run any time soon.