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ROGER OLEN Obituary

OLEN, Roger Keith Of Fort Myers, Florida, formerly of Belmont, Massachusetts, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, died of complications due to Parkinsons Disease, on September 30, 2013. Son of the late Oscar Manne Olen and Ingrid Stjernstrom Olen. Survived by wife Katharine (Standish) Crone Olen, brother Richard Dale Olen, and sister Jane Olen Johnson. Also survived by sons Mark Louis (wife Beth) Olen, Steven Merrill (wife Jie) Olen, and James Keith (wife Ngozi Bolin) Olen, and grandsons Michael Louis Olen, Thomas Morgan Olen, Matthew Li Olen, Phoenix Zaoku Olen, and granddaughter Zieozi Katharine Olen. Rog grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and spent his summers working on his Uncle Jacks farm in Norbeck, South Dakota. He graduated from Marshall High School in Minneapolis at the age of 16 in 1948, and attended the University of Minnesota, earning a BSEE degree in 1953. He also studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloane School where he earned an MBA degree, graduating in 1955. He proposed to Katharine Standish Crone on Thanksgiving in 1955, and they were married on June 23, 1956 at All Saints Church in Belmont, Massachusetts. After three years in the Army, living at the Watertown Arsenal, Rog and Kit moved to Belmont in 1959 to raise their three sons, remaining there for fifty years, until moving to Fort Myers, Florida in 2009. Diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in 1999, Rog and Kit moved from The Landings Waterfront Community to the Cypress Cove Senior Living Community in 2012, where Rog received wonderful care from the staff at The Lodges rehab/skilled nursing facility. In 1964, Rog founded Thornton Associates, Inc., with two fellow MIT graduates, where he served as the companys president and treasurer, and was joined by his brother Dick. Under their leadership the company grew and prospered, supplying nearly every major semiconductor manufacturer worldwide with critical processing technology. After selling the company to Mettler Toledo International in 2000, Rog retired, and he and Kit began wintering in Florida, eventually relocating there permanently in 2009. When he wasnt spending time with his family or at his company, Rog could often be found working out at Bentley College where he was an active member of the Falcons Nest, a group of local business executives that support academics and athletics at what is now Bentley University. Rog enjoyed spending his summers at Squam Lake in New Hampshire, and researching his and his wifes ancestry. A private service is being held for the family, followed by burial in Belmont, Massachusetts. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Rogs memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research at https://www.michaeljfox.org would be sincerely appreciated. On line guest book at www.brownandhickey.com

Published by Boston Globe from Oct. 5 to Oct. 6, 2013.
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Our love and blessings to a really wonderful man, Roger. We've enjoyed the friendship so much and wish it could have lasted an eternity. You will always be in our hearts Roger. You will be missed by us and many,many more. May God bless and keep you dear friend.

Marge & John Anderson

October 18, 2013

I'm so sorry Kit. Our prayers and thoughts will be with you and your family.

Gail and Fred Harris

October 10, 2013

I'm so sorry, Kit, praying for you and your family.

Connie Sutton

October 9, 2013

I will miss Uncle Rog very much. Love to the whole family....hugs.

Julie Johnson

October 9, 2013

My sympathy and love to Kit and the boys.I remember how helpful Roger was at cubscouts and school functions.Belmont seems only yesterday.Margaret J Yarranton.New Smyrna Beach,Fl.

October 9, 2013

My deepest sympathies to Kit and the entire Olen family. I have fond memories of Rog giving me one of my first real jobs packing boxes at Thornton Associates. Seeing Rog relax at Squam and the joy you could see when all gathered for dinner around the big green table and Grace was said. Michele and I send our sympathies and prayers.

Steve and Michele OBrien

October 7, 2013

My sympathy to Kit and sons and the entire Olen family. Such a great loss. I worked at Thornton Assoc for many years and fondly remember Roger with his keen business sense and being very devoted to his family. May Roger rest in God's loving arms. With prayers and sympathy.

Susan (Signa) Russo

October 6, 2013

rip

michelle plakas-kaiser

October 6, 2013

Oh Kit, I'm so very sorry! Praying for God's strength to get you through this time.

October 5, 2013

Owen & I have so many fond memories of our visits, especially after you moved to Florida. My thoughts and prayers are with you and all the family.

Laverne Johnson

October 5, 2013

Roger was a wonderful guy; one of Peter's favorite friends. My sympathy and love to you, Kit.

October 5, 2013

Roger will be remembered fondly by us forever.

Dave and Ava Walsh

October 4, 2013

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Funeral services provided by:

Brown & Hickey Funeral Home

36 Trapelo Rd., Belmont, MA 02478

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