Roger was my room mate from time to time at the University of Illinois, Urbana. We met through his cousin, Barry Lippa who has been my closest friend for almost a half century. Roger and I were both members of the campus chapter of the NAACP. Roger was almost always serious BUT, he knew how to laugh also at intolerance. In July 1963 we, the chapter, got a outside toilet out of northeast Champaign and mounted it on a flatbed with a sign that tied in with the Independence Day theme of 100 years of progress. Only we had our president, Mack Jones, who went on to be a scholar of Black politics in the south, to be pushing open the door demanding open housing while I, representing the white realtor establishment, kept shouting, we white realtors have to keep you in your "place." When we went by the Turk's Head coffee shop, we received oour only loud cheers. After circling the football field twice, we retired victoriously. The 4th committee announce in a few days that future parades would have all entries checked for "appropiateness" before the event. Roger was also one of our leaders as we boycotted, one summer, a new J.C. Penney's for racial discrimination. When they caved in, so did all of downtown Champaign. On a lighter note, I remember giving Roger the GOY award for the Jewish person, at least at that time, who knew the least about "his" culture while he promptly gave me the JOY award to the "gentile" who knew the most about Jewish culture. Usually from afar, and through Barry, i followed his career and committment. I was made a better person for knowing him and working with him in my still formative years. Thank you, belatedly, Gary Woll
I thank my parents for making me who I am in many ways, but I thank my dear Uncle Roger for teaching me much of what to believe in. He deeply cared about making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate than him, and thanks to him, I do, too. He was one of my true heroes and I only hope I can do his memory justice in working for the good of others.
As Doug mentioned, Roger was such an integral part of our growing up. He has always been special to us. The delight in his eyes when he looked at his daughters was much the same delight I had when he would be with Doug and I. Roger you are special and forever loved. I will miss you greatly.
Roger was my older cousin. His visits to our house when I was in elementary and middle school were always the highlight of my brother's and my year. I remember the utter delight he took in us - and that we took in him. When it was time for him to leave after a two-day visit, we would each wrap ourselves around one of his legs, begging him to stay longer.
His generosity of spirit colored that interaction and my feelings for him ever since. Few people have given me such a precious gift as his time and attention were in those years.
Three years ago, I was telling him how grateful I was for those visits. Only then did I learn that he, too, was buoyed by them, because it was a rare chance for him, the "baby" of his family, to be the "older brother." I grieve his death even as I treasure my memories of him.
