Roger William Conant

August 10, 1941 – December 5, 2025

Roger William Conant was born on the island of Chincoteague, Virginia, to Henry Warren Conant and Pauline Conant, née Dickerson. Growing up on a small island gave him a lifetime supply of stories. Known in his youth as Bill, he spent his early years running wild with childhood friends, his pet goat “Rudolph”, water skiing, boating, fishing, riding horses, duck hunting, and generally doing anything that involved sunshine, salt air, and a questionable level of supervision (although his much adored mother never ceased to worry about him). Chincoteague, and any time spent out on the water, remained his happy place throughout his life.

Bill’s childhood was surrounded by artists—writers, painters, and woodcarvers—who helped shape his lifelong appreciation for creativity and all eccentric characters. Bill graduated from Hargrave Military Academy and the University of Virginia and spent the early part of his career in finance before following his personal passion of home building. He approached building with tremendous attention to detail and quality, creating homes that reflected his craftsmanship and pride.

A born adventurer, Bill was never still for long. He was constantly working on a home project or hosting a gathering – often in the same day. He was a great cook and loved to prepare meals for friends and family—especially seafood dishes, big roasts, and anything that required the entire day (and usually late into the evening) to prepare. His jokes were usually inappropriate, his stories usually long and outrageous, and his enthusiasm for discovering new places, foods, and people was unmatched.

Bill adored his family above all. He took great pride in his daughters, Adrienne (Jouve) and Sarah (Rosson), and found such joy in watching his grandchildren grow, discover, and learn. Some of his happiest times were simply sharing life with them—whether on a fishing adventure or gathered together around a meal.

He loved deeply, lived boldly (sometimes recklessly), and leaves behind an enormous collection of memories and stories. His humor and truly generous heart will be profoundly missed.