Roger was the youngest in our family of four children and very much loved. Our mum and dad were both born in Czechoslovakia but settled here in Melbourne and their family grew. One of my earliest memories is of being so excited that I had a baby brother.
I remember the day Roger came home from hospital. He was such a pretty baby and we all doted on him. We didn’t have much in those early days, but we had a rich childhood and Roger was the icing on the cake. We would go for walks in the parks and gardens around Melbourne, and sometimes visit our cousins.
He was such a sweet little boy and when he started school, all the teachers loved him. He was also a brave kid, mum reminded me of when he was about three and injured his eye and had to have surgery. He never complained.
Afterwards, he had to wear sunglasses which we all thought was pretty cool, because there weren’t many three year olds wearing sunglasses at that time.
Roger was a very caring person and when he was young he thought of becoming a vet. He did well at school, first at St. Ignatius primary, he had many friends there, some of whom are here today. In those primary school days we shared a bedroom and I loved reading bedtime stories to him. He was more likely to hear Day of the Triffids than Peter Pan though. Maybe that’s what led him to enjoy Sci-fi novels later on.
After primary school he went to St. Kevin’s college, he was so easy to get along with and enjoyed new friendships there, again, some of those friends are here today as well.
Roger could also be depended upon. In fact, when I started going out with Stephen mum would send Roger along as a spy/chaperone. I was so embarrassed that I had to bring my little brother with me, but Stephen and all my friends loved him and didn’t mind at all. And you know he never dobbed on me, even when Stephen gave him money to go buy some lollies so we could have a smooch.
After St. Kevin’s, Roger went to RMIT and graduated as a mechanical engineer. He was a problem solver and enjoyed the challenge. When he was at Uni he had to submit a design project and explained to me that he was designing a toilet that stopped any splashes occurring. Typical Roger, so considerate.
After Uni he started his engineering career with a friend of ours, Jim, who owned a packaging company. Jim was so impressed with Roger, his work ethic, his ease with people and his reliability to get the job done. From there he went to Holden and his love affair with cars and motorbikes blossomed. He was still living at home and I still can’t believe that mum and dad would let him have motorbike parts laid out on his bedroom floor.
He then started his own business and developed a reputation for excellence in the industry. So much so that when he went to Japan to meet with Toyota, the senior executive was trying to pair him up with his daughter. They called him Roger-san. He was very much respected by his peers.
But Roger was all about family. When Stephen and I started our family we saw the loving, generous Roger in all his interactions with our boys. In our family celebrations he would be there. Listening to a piano or guitar recital, bringing awesome presents at birthdays and being such a patient and kind Godfather to our youngest, Daniel.
Roger was a wonderful uncle to all his nieces and nephews, Kate, Michael, Andrew, Daniel, Lucy, Charlie, Malaya and Zac all have their own special memories. I know in recent years Michael and Andrew would ask Roger for car advice. They would email photos of the latest steal, too good to miss and Roger would gently point out the 20 things wrong with the car, but always end on at least one redeeming feature just to make them feel better.
One day Roger brought home the most gorgeous girl named Debbie and we saw such joy in Roger as he and Debbie started their family. It has been so beautiful to watch Roger become such a wonderful, devoted dad and we would have many conversations centered around Audrey, Cooper and Dashiell and their little personalities that were beginning to develop.
I asked Stephen what I should say about Roger, and he said “You know, he was just such a great guy!”. He was a loving son to our Mum and Dad and the only one not to give them any trouble. He was the best little brother to Bobby, George and me.
Roger, we look forward to finding all your beautiful qualities in your children as they grow up surrounded by the love of our families.
Always in our hearts,
Nada