July 27, 1941 - July 10, 2024

In loving memory ~

Roger was born in England UK on July 27, 1941 during WW2. After the war ended, the country continued to deal with extreme rationing of fuel and some foods for 9 more years. Roger's father worked in a factory and on weekends played piano in the club, where Roger developed his love of music.

In 1957, age 16, Roger went to Technical School and started an apprenticeship with Marconi Wireless and Telegraph Co. and eventually earned a certificate in Electrical Engineering, working on close circuit systems and automatic controls for power stations and steel mills.

At the end of his apprenticeship, he became a Radio Systems Installation Engineer, and was sent overseas on projects in Sweden and Cyprus.

Roger married in Cyprus and then moved back to London UK to take further training in Diesel Electric Generation and Hydraulics, while working from Marconi's home office.

During the 1960's, Roger returned overseas with a crew for several projects in unstable countries, while installing radar tower systems and electrical systems for army applications.

In 1970, after the dangerous assignments in the Middle East, Marconi gave Roger work at the Comox BC airbase, working inside the radar towers to adjust the equipment for larger planes to land safely.

The next year he returned to England and worked in locations in Europe, until he was sent back to Comox with his wife Jeanne. When that job ended, they returned to England and started emigration procedures. During that time their daughter Susan was born.

In 1973, at age 32, Roger and his family emigrated to Canada. They arrived back in Comox and Roger worked as a remote heating technician at the airbase. They bought a house in Merville and in 1977 daughter Gillian was born. Roger got work on the North Island Princess as a Relief Engineer, followed by two years for the Department of Fisheries on the Tanu, and later getting work where he could while taking courses and passing exams to raise his qualifications as Marine Engineer.

In 1980 Roger and Jeanne bought a farm on Howard Road in Merville where the girls grew up with horses. When home from work, Roger supported his daughters, as both Jeanne and Roger were involved in NVIHA for several years.

When away, Roger worked for several companies - on tow boats with SeaSpan, with BC Ferries on the Powell River and Denman Island runs, for White Pass Transportation on the MV Frank H. Brown in Vancouver and for Beaudrill on the completion of the MV Terry Fox, an Ice-Breaker and Supply Vessel in the Arctic.

In 1997, Roger quit drinking and joined AA, then quit smoking. Then he moved out on his own, when he and his wife separated, followed by divorce. Having been helped to step into a better life for himself, Roger became a regular in AA, helping others who were struggling with the effects of alcohol in their lives.

In 1999 Roger met his new partner Irene Huntley when they both joined a Ballroom Dance class. At the time, he was working for BC Ferries in their little River office. In 2002, Roger and Irene moved to Osoyoos, married there and then bought a home in Castlegar in the West Kootenays.

In 2003, Roger went back to work as a Marine Mechanical Engineer for BC Ferries on their 2-week live-aboard run between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy.

On March 22, 2006, on the night shift, Roger was in the engine room when the MV Queen of the North struck Gil Island. He and the other worker down below immediately assessed the extent of the damage and told the crew on the bridge that the ship was going down. Then they closed the watertight doors to the electrical room to keep the lights on as long as possible, and ran up stairs to their emergency stations to assist evacuating the passengers and crew.

After the sinking, Roger continued working for BC Ferries on the MV Queen of Prince Rupert on the northern route and later on the MV Northern Adventure. In 2009 Roger finally retired and the couple moved back to Courtenay. They traveled to the western US for winter trips and settled back into island life.

By 2017, it became clear that Roger was dealing with dementia. By mid-2020 he was no longer able to manage at home and was moved into Long-Term Care, where he passed away on July 10th, 2024.

Roger is survived by his partner Irene Huntley, his daughters Susan Tew and Gillian Tew and his granddaughter Marra Tew.

There will be a celebration of life on Sunday July 28 from 1 to 7pm at Gillian's residence at 2385 Dove Road in Black Creek (off Macaulay Road).

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