Roger S. Findley III

Roger was born in Pittsburgh on April 11, 1951 to Harriet and Roger Findley, Jr. The family moved to Chicago in 1954 shortly after brother Daniel was born. Two years later came Steve, followed by Kate in 1959. A classic big brother, Roger earned the nickname Ogre – claiming until the end that it was a term of endearment. Anyone who ever arm-wrestled Roger might say differently.

The family enjoyed annual vacations in Ludington, Michigan, Holiday celebrations at the South Shore Country Club, and summer evenings in the backyard screened room, the Teahouse of the August Moon. Roger was graduated from Morgan Park High School where he was starting center on the Mustangs football team and was equally enthusiastic about the Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl, an annual football game that continues to this day.

Roger played football at Colorado College where he pledged the Sigma Chi fraternity. He transferred to Bradley University where he learned Pi to 200 places and earned a degree in Business. Facile with numbers, Roger became an options trader on the CBOE and was sent to Amsterdam to set up an exchange there. In his 6 ½ years in Holland, Roger developed a love of Delft china, strong coffee, and really great cheese.

He returned to Chicago in 1986 and became an ardent lover of the city’s music, lakefront, food, and football team, remaining loyal to his beloved Bears though they frequently disappointed him. He parlayed his business acumen into a successful second career as a mortgage banker, deriving great satisfaction from putting people in their dream home. He was a customer service king.

A dear friend introduced Roger to Glen Lake, Michigan where he and a good pal purchased a cottage. Roger delighted in sharing the beauty of Northern Michigan with family and friends. A true romantic, he married Anne in 1992. They enjoyed nearly 25 years of a beautiful love affair.

Roger inherited from his father his lifelong love of stamp collecting and delighted in surprising friends with letters and packages covered in vintage postage. From his mother, he inherited his joy for finding and giving the perfect gift. He was grateful for his 34 years of sobriety. Roger committed to all that he did, and everything he did he shared. He was positive and accepting, forgiving and kind, and a fiercely loyal friend. He nurtured his friendships and, like George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, considered himself the richest man in town. He lived life with enthusiasm, joy, and a wicked wit.

As Clarence, the guardian angel in Roger’s favorite movie said, “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” So true, Clarence, so true.

Roger was the devoted husband of Anne (née Calhoon) Findley; loving brother of Daniel (Barbara) Findley, Stephen (Nicola) Findley and Katherine (James) Nowak; cherished uncle of Lisa, Heather and Emmett Findley; beloved son-in-law of Theodore and Dana Calhoon and brother-in-law of Lloyd Calhoon. Memorial gathering, Friday March 17, 5 pm - 8 pm at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W 103rd St, Oak Lawn, IL. Funeral, Saturday March 18,10:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church, 9848 S Winchester Ave, Chicago, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Roger's name may be made to the American Cancer Society, 225 North Michigan Ave., Ste. 1200, Chicago, IL 60601 or www.cancer.org.

Info: 708-636-1193 or www.blakelamboaklawn.com.