Roger was born in Johnson City, NY to Andrew and Anna Kenderes (both deceased) on May 6,1938 and had three siblings Dorothy (deceased), brother Allen Kenderes and sister Elaine Kenderes Nachman. Roger graduated from Johnson City High School, Broome Tech (AA Degree in Mechanical Engineering), and the University of Arizona (BS Degree in Industrial Engineering). After graduating in1961, he married Audrey Pekera and moved to Garden Grove, CA where Roger worked at several aviation companies as a Facilities Engineer. Roger and Audrey had two children, daughter Wendy and son Douglas.
When Roger was about 12, he started playing his accordion for family gatherings and formed a band playing for bridal showers, weddings. He continued playing while attending the U of A. In CA, Roger purchased the Polish Village entertaining customers with polka music of his ethnic heritage and later formed a band playing for local polka clubs.
At Hughes Aircraft in Newport Beach, Roger was Assistant Facilities & Telecommunications Manager. After his retirement he continued his band Roger & The Villagers, expanding to German music and Oktoberfests until he retired the band after 50 years. In 2001 Roger was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. He was in remission in 2016. After Roger & Audrey's 57th Anniversary in August 2018, Roger was diagnosed with Lung Cancer, sadly passing away on September 27, 2018.
Roger is survived by his loving wife Audrey; children: Wendy and Douglas; siblings: Allen Kenderes and Elaine Kenderes as well as several nieces, nephews and their children.
A Funeral Mass will be held in Roger's Honor at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Fountain Valley, CA on October 10, 2018 at 10:30AM with a burial to follow at Good Shepherd Cemetery in a niche at the Resurrection Garden. A Celebration of Life will be held following the burial at Mile Square Golf Course at 10401 Warner Ave, Fountain Valley, CA 92708.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Roger's name to the following institutions:
Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research
9201 Sunset Blvd., Suite 300
West Hollywood, CA 90069
www.imbcr.org
American Lung Association
www.lung.org
