Dr. Roger Holmes Sawyer

Dr. Roger Holmes Sawyer was born in Portland, Maine on September 5, 1942, about 10 minutes before his identical twin brother, Ray. He enjoyed ice fishing, hunting, diving for lobsters, and football among other things. He and his brother, helped to lead their football team to win the Yankee Conference at the University of Maine at Orono, where he completed his undergraduate degree. He went on to attend the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where he completed his doctorate degree in the field of zoology. He completed his post doctorate with Dr. Ursula Abbott at the University of California, Davis where he researched featherless chickens. However, he really preferred researching feathers on dinosaurs, not birds. His tenure at the University of South Carolina started in 1975 and continued until his passing. During his time at the University, he served as a professor of biology and histology, chair of biological sciences, served in the deans office of science and math, and served as a senior associate dean in the college of arts and sciences under Dean Mary Ann Fitzpatrick. While holding these positions, his favorite time at the university was spent in his lab researching tissues and working with students.

He is preceded in death by his parents Frank Dolloff Sawyer and Phyllis Holmes Simmons, and his brother Raymond Dolloff Sawyer. He is survived by his wife of 43 years Mary Beth and their two children Melissa Eckhardt (Will) and Elizabeth ‘Lizzy’ Walker (Chad); grandchildren Braden, Atti, Maryann, Hannah, and Jimmy, children of Melissa, Lily and Birdie, children of Lizzy. He is also survived by his former wife Cindy Sawyer Hoffman, mother of Michael ‘Mike’ Sawyer (Debbie), Laurie Brown (Aylan), and Robert ‘Rob’ Sawyer (Nancy); grandchildren Erin (Cody), Michael, and Jacob, children of Mike, Sawyer and Sarah Aylan, children of Laurie, and Kate (Dwight) and Andrew, children of Rob, as well as cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Roger spent his life researching and caring for animals of all kind as well as spoiled family rescues. Memorials in his honor can be made to Carolina Wildlife Center, PETSinc, and Pawmetto Lifeline.

A memorial service will be held at Shandon Presbyterian Church on Saturday March 28, 2026 at 2:00pm.