Roger and I were roommates for four years and after graduation kept in contact on and off until his death. Coming from Washington D.C., he had a strong interest in politics. During our sophomore year we took two excellent political philosophy classes with Craig Brown, an excellent teacher Williams disgracefully did not retain. Roger did social work during one winter study in (I believe) Patterson, New Jersey, and after Williams he got a degree in social work. After that he also got a law degree, during which time he worked on Capitol Hill as an assistant to then Representative Charles Grassley of Iowa. He got a good look at what is called the ‘sausage making’ in Washington under then Democrat control and very much did not like what he saw. He grew ever more skeptical of politicians and the press as he closely followed various drawn out processes in D.C.
Aside from politics, Roger had strong interests in music and painting (his sister is a distinguished art historian). At Williams we two, with Peter Podore, listened to a lot of Frank Zappa, modern classical, and jazz music and had fun playing some songs together. Roger played clarinet and took up the classical guitar (which became a lifetime interest). He always had splendid artworks around the house when I visited him occasionally in Washington.
While not gregarious, Roger was outgoing and formed lasting friendships. It was through Roger that I met Arturo Calventi, a great conversationalist, sadly also long gone. Roger had a great BS detector, which he skillfully employed in fashioning bemused, deprecatory comments on parts of the world which deserved them.
Throughout his life he confronted and managed various health issues which he admirably did not let define his life, and it is sad that one of them did him in before his time.
Roger and I were roommates for four years and after graduation kept in contact on and off until his death. Coming from Washington D.C., he had a strong interest in politics. During our sophomore year we took two excellent political philosophy classes with Craig Brown, an excellent teacher Williams disgracefully did not retain. Roger did social work during one winter study in (I believe) Patterson, New Jersey, and after Williams he got a degree in social work. After that he also got a law degree, during which time he worked on Capitol Hill as an assistant to then Representative Charles Grassley of Iowa. He got a good look at what is called the ‘sausage making’ in Washington under then Democrat control and very much did not like what he saw. He grew ever more skeptical of politicians and the press as he closely followed various drawn out processes in D.C.
Aside from politics, Roger had strong interests in music and painting (his sister is a distinguished art historian). At Williams we two, with Peter Podore, listened to a lot of Frank Zappa, modern classical, and jazz music and had fun playing some songs together. Roger played clarinet and took up the classical guitar (which became a lifetime interest). He always had splendid artworks around the house when I visited him occasionally in Washington.
While not gregarious, Roger was outgoing and formed lasting friendships. It was through Roger that I met Arturo Calventi, a great conversationalist, sadly also long gone. Roger had a great BS detector, which he skillfully employed in fashioning bemused, deprecatory comments on parts of the world which deserved them.
Throughout his life he confronted and managed various health issues which he admirably did not let define his life, and it is sad that one of them did him in before his time.