Roger meant a lot to me, actually to both me and my husband, Patrick Mooney, who formerly led Visitor Services at the National Museum of the Marine Corps; he was a good and faithful friend to both of us. I met Roger shortly after the Museum opened when I joined the Docent Corps. An original Docent, Roger spent the next 15 and a half years faithfully serving at the Museum. As Pat worked through the challenges of building out the Visitor Services department, he could always count on Roger, whom Pat most often called Mac, to lend an ear on challenges or be a sounding board for ideas. Roger gave Pat the benefit of his life experiences, not only from a Marine Corps perspective, but from his time working in the television industry. His insights and his thoughtful, considered opinions were always helpful and valuable.
Roger was always a joy to encounter. I never met him a day when he wasn’t wearing that mischievous grin with a funny story to tell. Pat and I both loved having an opportunity to catch up with him. He invested in us personally and when he asked how one of us was doing, you knew it wasn’t just platitudes but that he genuinely cared and wanted to know. He was an absolute hoot to chat with and that remained true as both Roger and I both fought and shared our personal battles, he with his wife’s and his own health and me with my husband’s. Roger was most often seen on the days that Larry Britton was also serving at the Museum and if Roger was hilarious alone, the duo of Roger and Larry together would never fail to bring a smile to your face and absolutely make your day. I used to tease the both of them that they were like Frick and Frack, so often were they seen together.
Roger had a great and genuine love for the Marine Corps and the Museum. He was one of the best teachers we’ve ever had and he never faltered, even at the end when I joined him for his last Docent training session on 26 March. He taught the new Docents the WWII gallery and I was there to back him up in case he needed it – he didn’t. Though teaching from a scooter and weakened by his long, ongoing battle with cancer, his love, passion and knowledge still shown through. I feel especially blessed that, on that day, Roger and Pat got the opportunity to have one last face-to-face conversation in the Museum.
Fair winds and following seas, old friend. You will and are greatly missed by all who knew you. To his family, I offer my sincere condolences on a great man and a wonderful friend. He will be long remembered.
