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Roger passed away on December 4, 2012 of a massive heart attack. According to an announcement published in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Roger was a son of California, and a man of the world. He valued most the friends he gathered, and will be dearly missed by his family. He was happiest at sea, challenged by the elements.
This spring, under clear blue skies, fair winds and the seas calm, family and friends gathered at Roger's home on Saturday, May 25, 2013, to tell stories and celebrate his inspirational life.
(Updated 5/27/13)
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Rafael "Brud" Dufficy
Hey Roger- great picture- that's you- and you were the only guy I ever knew who could break a "church key" in half with his bare hands
- what a ride and thanks for the memories !!!
Brud Dufficy
Jack Kriel
Backing up to the mid 30's; John Kriel Sr. - my dad - married Lorretta Kennedy in 1934 and my half sister Janetta was born in 1935. Due to the damage to Loretta's heart valve several years earlier from rheumatic fever, Loretta died some 9 months after Janetta's birth. John and babe Janetta then moved from San Francisco into his parents' place in San Anselmo and commuted from there to SF to continue his work in overseas shipping.
My dad would later meet, via the Marin County Ski Club, Edna Baccaglio. Then John and Edna would marry in 1942 with Janetta moving in as a 7 year old and delighted to have a lively mom and soon enough 3 younger brothers, with me, Jack (John Jr), being the oldest born 2/12/43. We Kennedys, Wishards and Kriels would visit often enough and laugh and giggle together. ("Janetta" - made from the melding of "John" and "Loretta"; Roger's sister Georgelle was the daughter of George and Eleanor, likewise another melding.)
Life choices for Roger and me would see us travel our separate ways and hear of each other by and by. Fifty-two years later I find myself reading the various comments and memories about Roger. I now am sorry Roger and I did not make better contact that could have resulted in a close friendship.
jack.kriel@att.net
Michael Anderson
Roger was the coolest cat in our class.
He could take a car apart and put it back together.
He wore glasses – and made it look cool.
He drove a big blue 1949 or ‘50 Mercury convertible, that he rebuilt, that was the coolest car on campus.
He was a deeply loyal friend.
He wasn’t afraid of anybody.
He was generous.
He didn’t smoke; the rest of us thought we were cool smoking.
Roger was too cool to smoke.
He had a rich sense of humor; he was smart enough to be cynical, but he chose not to be.
He was respectful toward the girls in our school.
He listened to Ahmad Jamal. Ahmad Jamal!
He took me to see George Shearing.
He belonged to an Alpine hiking club; that would not have been cool if we’d known it, so I only found out about it a few years ago.
He joined the Army and traveled; became an M.P.
He built a sailboat out of ferrocement, sailed it on the big wide ocean.
Told me he wanted to leave light tracks on the earth.
He crewed on a fishing boat in Alaska.
It seemed he could build anything.
I wouldn’t have said so at the time, but he was a handsome man, a beautiful person. (The girls admired his long eyelashes.)
It was my great good fortune to have had him as a friend.
It is my great loss to have seen so little of him since high school.
I missed him when I had a chance …
And now, I can’t reach him.
I am so sad, and feel so stupid.
Roger was so cool.
I love you, Roger.
Spencer Merryman
It is very sad for me to hear this news. Roger was a great friend of mine even though we had not seen each other for years.We used to do things together in the old days and a couple are as follows:
One time we went to the Grand Prix at Laguna Seca in Roger's creampuff 1950 Mercury. Of course we got lost on the way but finally found the track. We drank wine out of bota bags and squirted the wine into each other's mouths. After a while we squirted it all over each other! We slept overnight in the car and watched the race the next day. We briefly met Sterling Moss who was driving a little yellow Lotus car. We had a great time!
We used to go hunting for rabbits at a place called Dillons Beach. The first time we brought 22 rifles. There were lots of jackrabbits but we could not hit them as they could see the bullets coming and they would just move their heads aside. So, the next time we went there, we brought 12 guage shotguns and you can guess the rest!
The last time we enjoyed a time togeather, besides the reunion, was for Roger's 40th birthday party. It was in Point Reyes and he had his friend, Ed Biaginni there playing the Honky Tonk piano. It was a party I will never forget.
I had a long talk with Roger at the reunion about his ferro cement fishing vessel that he built over many years and his adventures with it. He did mention that he had been sick but did not find out what it was. We talked about he an Barbara coming down to Cancun sometime and visit with us. I am so sorry that it never happened.
Roger was a prince of a person and we will all miss him so much.
Spence
Melodie Yoell (Behm)
I have known Roger since we were young kids at St. Anselms. I remember his mom wearing a huge hat (my mother called them "picture hats" -- not sure why). Funny what we remember, isn't it? I remember liking him and thinking of him as a nice boy. Later, I feel I got to know Roger a lot better and I am so glad that I did. That nice boy grew to become such a wonderful person.
A while back, Mike Mc Graw and Peter Mitchell began a St. Anselms Alumni lunch at San Rafael Joes and Roger attended. He was always such a wonderful addition. It was a once every few months event. Our last lunch was on stormy and rainy day of the year. Peter called and said,"should we cancel?" The common-sense answer was "yes," so we reached almost everyone and said not to come. We decided that maybe we should show up anyway because we did not want someone getting stood up. When I arrived, there sat Roger. Peter came and the three of us had the nicest of visits. We talked and talked for a long while. Joe joined us towards the end of the lunch and he is so glad that he did.
I now find myself so grateful for the fond memories of that day. I found him to be such a warm, caring person, with the gentilest of spirits. Roger had so many, many interests and it was such a pleasure to listen to him talk about them. We discussed everything from grammar school memories to religion. It was such a nice afternoon and I am so glad that I have that pleasant rainy afternoon memory of Roger. I think the world needs more Rogers - and I am so sad today.
Melodie
Paul Hanson
Roger was one of the hippest and coolest members of our class. He also had a very well-developed sense of humor, definitely one of the funniest in our class. But even though he was very hip and very funny he was still also gentle and kind to others. God bless you and all of yours, Roger. Paul Hanson.
Nancy Appel (Briemle)
I actually got to know Roger in his adult life more than high school. He had worked at the Sierra Club on the Donner Summit and learned about the Nature Friends club which was right next door. He joined our club since its main branch is in Mill Valley on the panoramic highway. Roger, Barbara and Conner, their son, would come up in the summer to stay at Heidelmann ( the Nature Friends club). We got to enjoy each other's company. Roger loved to remince about friends from Marin Catholic. He was a gentle soul. it was so enjoyable to see a close knit family as there's was. I will miss him in the Sierras which he knw so much about and loved.
Berg frei, Roger.
Nancy Appel Briemle