Roger William Mehle Jr.

Roger William Mehle, Jr., LCDR, age 82, of Washington, D.C. passed away on October 10, 2024, with his wife Colette Mehle at his side. Roger was born on December 28, 1941, in Long Beach, California to the late RADM Roger William Mehle and Aileen Elder Mehle, who was New York society columnist “Suzy”. He spent his formative years in Washington, D.C. and graduated from Georgetown Preparatory School in 1959. Roger followed his father’s career and accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD and graduated in 1963. While in the U.S. Navy, Roger served as the chief engineer of a nuclear submarine, completing six patrols in the North Atlantic on the USS James K. Polk and the USS Lewis and Clark. Following his military service, Roger attended and graduated, with highest honors, from New York University Business School and began his career in finance on Wall Street. During his years as an investment banker, he served in executive positions with the First Boston Corporation, Dean Witter Reynolds, and Paine Webber. While working in New York, Roger also earned his J.D. degree from Fordham University Law School, where he was a member of the law review.

In 1981, Roger returned to Washington, D.C. to join the Federal government. From 1981-1983, Roger served as Assistant Secretary for Domestic Finance with the U.S. Treasury Department in President Reagan’s administration. In 1986, Roger became the Founding Chairman of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board establishing a 401(k)-type program for Federal employees and from 1994-2002, he served as the Executive Director for the organization.

In his final working years, Roger was proud to be appointed an administrative law judge for the Federal government, and, from 2017-2023, adjudicated cases for the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Roger is survived by his wife Colette (Bohatch) of 26 years. On July 4, 1998, Roger married Colette at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA. When not working, Roger dedicated time and contributions to his favorite charities. It was to his wife, his extended family, and his close friends that he directed his full measure of love and devotion.

Roger’s life will be celebrated at a funeral service to be held at 11:30 a.m. on October 26, 2024, at Annunciation Catholic Church located at 3810 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. Contributions in Roger’s name may be made to Annunciation Catholic Church.