CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Phillip Rogers holds a photo of his wife, Robin Rogers. Robin was one of three nursing professors killed during last year's shooting spree at the College of Nursing.

At least once a week, Phillip Rogers takes a long walk through Sabino Canyon. He tries to clear his mind of the tragedy that took his wife one year ago.

"By the time I get done with my walk, the day is forgotten about and sometimes you just really need that," said Phillip, the husband of slain nursing professor Robin Rogers.

Even with his mind clear, the memory of that day still resonates.

It was a Monday morning as usual at the Rogers' house. Robin had just completed her daughter's Halloween costume and had begun to work on her husband's costume.

As her husband headed out the door on his way to work, he noticed that the spotted fabric for his Dalmatian costume was laid out next to the sewing machine on the kitchen table.

He looked forward to seeing the completed outfit later that night. But his wife never came home to finish it.

That afternoon he received a phone call from a friend who worked with her, notifying him that there was a shooting at the College of Nursing, where his wife had worked since 1996.

"My first reaction was that it wasn't a big deal because it was probably an estranged spouse of someone or something like that," Phillip said. "But then I started thinking about this guy (Flores) that she had mentioned, and I got worried and called the campus police."

The campus police couldn't tell him anything at that point because the Tucson Police Department was handling the case, so he waited by the phone.

About 15 minutes later Phillip's phone rang. It was the same friend, and this time she recommended that he leave work to come down to the Swede Johnson Building, where everyone from the college was congregating.

"As I walked towards the building I just knew it was Robin. I don't know how I knew, but I did," Phillip said.

His worst fears were verified by a police officer.

It's funny, sometimes I find myself doing something because Robin taught me to do it a certain way, and it makes me stop and think. - Phillip Rogers

His wife of 25 years had been shot and killed by the distressed student that she had just mentioned concern for in a church group the Saturday before.

Since that day life has been filled with many challenges.

Just getting through the UA's football season has been difficult for Phillip because Robin was such an avid football fan.

The two of them, along with mutual friends, would buy season tickets each year and go to every home football game.

Rogers tries to keep his spirits up and root for the team, but it's hard when his wife isn't cheering by his side.

In order to cope with the loss of his wife, Phillip has leaned heavily on his family.

The couple had two children, Rachel and Jonathon, who are now both 22 years old.

"This whole thing has brought us a lot closer together," Phillip said. "It is just something that makes you appreciate family that much more."

Phillip sees Rachel, who attends the UA, at least once a week and talks to Jonathon, who is at NAU, once or twice a week.

"It was really hard for our family to lose Robin because like most families, the mom is more hands-on," Phillip said. "But we are all getting through this a day at a time."

Life is the same yet different, he said. Phillip still works at the same job, lives in the same house.

"It's funny, sometimes I find myself doing something because Robin taught me to do it a certain way, and it makes me stop and think," Phillip explained. "Like

folding towels. I don't need to do it that certain way, but the habit has just stayed."

Phillip has had to teach himself how to cook, since Robin was the one who used to do all the cooking.

"Now I will pick a cook book up while I'm standing in the line at the grocery store and say to myself, 'Oh yeah, I can do that,'" Phillip said.

Phillip noted that he survived his first work potluck as a single person, an accomplishment.

When Phillip's mother visited him last winter she finished the Dalmatian costume that was left untouched last year, and he plans on wearing it this Halloween.

"I like to think of myself as a happy person, but some days I still get down," Phillip said. "The reality though, is that life still has to go on."