I sent Roger an email to ask some questions and his Wife sent back that he had passed away on 6/9/07.
Very sad
later, Ron
"Time working or driving your ride is NOT subtracted from your life clock"........Sad news.Rest well our Ford friend!
Everyone:
That is really sad news. For his wife and family as well as all of us 57 lovers. His technical expertise and willingness to share the successes and pitfalls in completing his Ranchero project will be sorely missed. I had the pleasure of meeting Roger once when he came up to check out some of the 57's in Steve Pierce's Lynwood storage yard. He was genuinely interested in what I'd done on my 57 and I was really looking forward to seeing his Ranchero in person and letting him tell me about so many of the things he ran into while completing his project.
Bob
57AGIN
Sad news indeed. Prayers for him & his family.
I am sorry to hear about Roger . My prayers go out to his family . I always enjoyed reading his post and envied him for having the time to work on his projects the way he did. He will be missed.
Kent
Our prayers to your family ROGER, you now live in the biggest dragstrip around so go for it brother, you'll always be riding with us - SMURFEE :icon_bigsmurf:
Some of us were lucky to been able to help Roger in his Ranchero project, most of us got something out of his post. That maybe the reason my email to him on the 12th came back. I would like to add my prayers to his family.
TOM :unitedstates:
A sad time indeed in '57dom. My prayers are with Roger's family, and I pray that he is in a very happy place now. John
OMG..........unbelievable! My thoughts and prayers are with his family. I am just sitting here really stuned....his last post wasn't too long ago. You talk about being at a loss for words. He just retired so he couldn't have been that old....he never spoke of any health issues. Is there any possibility that any of you that are close by can find out why his family and us were robbed of such a nice guy so suddenly and long before his time....
Hi All:
I did not inquire as to what took Roger, but I did e-mail his wife Diane about the loss to all of us. A copy of my e-mail and her response follows.
Thank you very much for the lovely note. We are going to finish Rogers Ranchero for him. He was so close and very excited. He was loved very much by all who knew him.
Thank you again
Roger's wife Diane
Robert Lee wrote:
Roger's Wife and Family:
I was terribly shocked and saddened to hear of Roger's passing. The thoughts and prayers of me and many fellow 57 Ford owners go out to you and your family in this very difficult time. Nothing anyone can say will ease the pain and sorrow, but nevertheless please accept my condolences.
I was only fortunate enough to have met Roger once, when he came up to Lynwood to look at some Ford parts. I knew him primarily through his e-mails to me personally and to the general membership in the 57's club. He was generous with his help and advice and always shared his successes and even some of the not so successes as he rebuilt his
Ranchero. He will be missed, but through the legacy of the information he so freely shared we will not forget your Roger.
God bless you and your family.
Bob
She seems to be a very gracious and nice person and the fact that they will continue Roger's work on the Ranchero is very uplifting .
Bob
57AGIN
I am at a complete loss for words...my thoughts are with his family.
All,
I know he will be missed.
Below is a response from Diane regarding the email I sent her.
I was proud to know him... :unitedstates:
He will not ever be forgotten by me.
Patrick Briney (Dallas TX)
___________
Patrick thank you for the kind words.
Roger's illness was sudden and unexpected. We went out to dinner on Sat. and Monday he was on life support.
He loved sharing info with all of you guys. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Diane
_____________
Briney wrote:
Rogers wife,
I am sorry to hear of Rogers passing. It was just posted on our 57ford's forever website. My thoughts are with you and your family. I did not know if he was sick or was this unexpected? I and others are shocked. I had just gotten the note below only a week or so before.
He was a great person to exchange information with regarding car stuff. I too have a 57 Ranchero like his.
We also spoke about how he did a similar job that I do now with computers. I had hoped on meeting him next summer on my trip to California. I had lived north of you in Anaheim for years.
I and others will really miss him.
God bless, and I will say a prayer for you and your family.
Sad news, if theres a god in heaven- he probably needed help with his 57 ranchero ,ride on! Mark
I want to say that I am truly sorry for not having checked in earlier. I always looked forward to Rogers progress reports by email. I was looking at the last one he sent to me just the other day. When I came on here and saw that he had passed away, I will be honest, I was floored. Kinda puts ones own mortality in perspective. Needless to say, Roger was a great friend to all who knew him, and I just wish I had been fortunate enough to meet him. Geographics kept that from happening, but at any rate, he was happy to share information and trivia with us all as members. I want to make a memorial here and the main site for Roger and his Ranchero. Anyone who has photos of it in a more complete state than I have please send them to me. I have photos of it without a front clip, but painted and otherwise complete.
As for our friend, Roger, keep the oil warm, the beer cold, and we'll see you in a little while. RIP my friend. . .
Well said JPotter57, I am still feeling a bit of disbelief, mainly because Roger had such a presence on this board. I also never met him but he offerred me much advise and help with my 'Ranchero situation' earlier this year.
I think a memorial is a terrific idea.
Matt
I didn't know RAWms but for the knowledge he shared with me through this web-site. We will miss his advice and experience. The people that help us along our journey will not be forgotten. Condolences to his family and 57fordsforever.
Jim Nolan
James:
Great idea. Roger was a true craftsman and always willing to share not only his successes, but also the things that didn't quite work out as anticipated. Roger's wife, Diane indicated in her response to me that the family will continue working on Roger's Ranchero. I'd suggest that in a couple of weeks, you might want to do an e-mail to Diane (rawms@roadrunner.com) and let her know what you would like to do in honor of Roger. I'm certain they will be happy to share some pictures with you and in turn all of us.
Bob 57AGIN
I already have emailed Diane and she said she thought that would be a great idea. She offered help if we need it. I want to ask her for a couple photos of Roger, possibly working on his car or at his computer if she has something like that. All of the photos I have of his car are complete, minus the front fenders. Painted and everything, just no front clip yet. She also told me that she her only daughter wanted to finish the car in his honor. He was so close, I wish I was there to help.I know the board will be different withouht him here, but we will continue on. Roger wouldn't want it any other way. When I get a few photos together, I will try to get something nice together to remember our friend. I would maybe like to set up a forum/guestbook for everyone to sign or leave a comment in, and after a few days, lock it so no more replies can be put there, then leave it for a while. After an appropriate time, I could take it down, maybe archive it, or print it. I think it would be a nice thing to send to his family, to let them know that he was definitley cared about by his many friends here. Let me know if you guys have something in mind, and we can discuss it furhter here. James P
Roger's wife sent me this photo of Roger today. I will be putting together a page this week with a couple things in memory of Roger. Anyone who wants to post a couple lines in it is welcome. After everyone is finished posting, I will lock the thread, and use the posts in it in a new photo of Roger, from our club to Roger's family. She offered to pay for it, but I won't have any of that. I told her I would take care of all of that. So this weekend, I will have a post here, and post your memories, or you can just sign your name to it. I will take everything and add it to a photo. Once that is done, I will post it at the main club site, then have it printed to send to Diane.
I would feel proud to share in any & all exspences involved - SMURFEE :icon_bigsmurf:
Once we get this all taken care of, is there anyone in the vicinity of where Roger lived? If so, would you be interested in helping to complete the car? I'm not certain, but I believe all that is left is the final assembly. From what I gathered from the emails I received from him, everything was painted and was just awaiting assembly. The car runs, is tagged, etc. I think it would be awesome for some of our west coast members to step up in this man's honor and memory, and take a part, even if a small part, in finishing Roger's dream. Let me know if anyone out there is willing to help out. Thanks in advance, guys...James P
James:
That's a good thought. Following the memorial, we should talk to Diane to see if they want to do the final assembly or if they would appreciate some help. I'm sure that we can find some volunteers out here.
Bob
57AGIN