Roger Val DiDonato

Roger Val DiDonato (Rog) passed away on Thursday, August 13th, 2026 at the age of 82. He was born on May 27th, 1944 in Denver, Colorado and grew up in Lakewood as the first-born son to Camillo (Chuck) and Ruth (Morgan) DiDonato. He grew up in Daniels Gardens with his brothers Ron and Rick DiDonato, and all of his close relatives. Rog graduated from Lakewood High School and attended Mesa College. He married Carolyn (Smith) and had three children, Gina, Ron, and Rick. They lived in Golden, Colorado for 19 years, and then he moved up to Evergreen in 1986 and lived there for 40 years.

His early career included working at the Pepsi Company and then Rog opened a trucking company in the mid-1970’s called Coyote Trucking which transitioned into DiDonato Trucking and maintained this very successful career throughout his life until 2006. He also was very successful as a mechanic and owned and operated a truck parts business A-Bear Truck Parts.

His passions included flat track motorcycle racing, listening to music and playing his accordion, fishing and hunting. Rog loved traveling for fishing and hunting excursions with his brothers and cousins and loved his extended family.

Rog is survived by his brothers Ron and Rick, ex-wife Carolyn, children Gina, Ron, and Rick. He has six grandchildren – Marco, Alex, Quenton, Morgan, Clay, and Makenna. And four great grandchildren – Grace, Siena, Azariah, and Marielle.

To his colleagues, coworkers, friends, and his most recent life at Brookdale (Ciel) Independent Living – you are lifelong family to Rog. He rarely met a stranger and would give his whole heart and time to take care of a friend in need.

Family and friends will be notified when a celebration of life is scheduled later this year.