JONATHAN ROOSEVELT

JONATHAN ROOSEVELT obituary, Sudbury, MA

JONATHAN ROOSEVELT

JONATHAN ROOSEVELT Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Jun. 30, 2013.

  
JONATHAN ROOSEVELT (Age 73)  
Of Sudbury MA, died peacefully at home after a long illness, on June 21, 2013. His wife, Laine Gifford, was by his side. Jonathan graduated from Groton School in 1958, Harvard University in 1962, and from Harvard Law School in 1965. In between, he and his first wife, Jae, taught school in Moshi, Tanganyika for a year, returning to Cambridge in 1963 to attend Harvard Law School. They moved to Washington in 1966 where their three children were born. In 1969, they moved to Kinshasa in the then-Congo, then to Accra, Ghana where he worked for the US government, returning to Washington in 1973. A part of his heart was always in East Africa. After that he had several occupations, but the one that he was most passionate about was the last: volunteering for 10 years in the Massachusetts prison system as facilitator of a book discussion group. He was a revered and loved teacher among the many men who passed through his groups. In addition to his wife, Laine, Jonathan is survived by his brothers, Kermit and Mark; his sister, Anne Mason; his son, Jonathan; his daughters, Ashley Althoff and Kate Roosevelt; his former wife, Jae; five grandsons, one granddaughter, three nephews, two nieces, two stepdaughters, five step-grandchildren, a number of devoted people who cared for him in his last few years, and a multitude of friends. A memorial service will be held on July 31 at 1 p.m. at First Parish of Sudbury Unitarian Universalist meeting house in Sudbury MA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to: Concord Prison Outreach, 1317 Main St, Concord MA 01742, and Span, Inc., 105 Chauncy Street, Sixth Floor. Boston, MA 02111. For more information, and to sign the on-line register book, please visit: www.duckett-waterman.com.  Duckett - J.S. Waterman & SonsSudbury (978)-443-5777

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Sign JONATHAN ROOSEVELT's Guest Book

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January 1, 2018

Charlie Kurtz posted to the memorial.

April 9, 2015

Malcolm Harper posted to the memorial.

February 24, 2015

Boyd Plowman posted to the memorial.

Charlie Kurtz

January 1, 2018

I had the privaledge of getting to know Jonathan on several goose hunting trips when we both lived in DC. I just learned of his death on New Year's Day 2018.
I believe we only talked once since we both left DC. So very sorry we did not keep in touch. I will always have fond memories of the cold days sitting in the goose blinds with him! My best to his family.

Malcolm Harper

April 9, 2015

Maybe it's too late, but I saw this great picture of Jonathan on my screen and was so sad to see that it was posted because he had died. We roomed together in Eliot House at Harvard when he was an undergraduate and I was an indigent British student at the Business School; Jonathan introduced me to a whole new side of the United States which I would never have seen otherwise, he and his family in NYC and DC made my year so much more fun, and interesting, than the Business School ever could have been, and the picture reminds me so vividly of the many good times we had together. Thank you Jonathan, and all.

Boyd Plowman

February 24, 2015

It was so sad to check on my old friend as I have done every few years only to dicover his passing. He and I spent several weeks together in the middle east back in the mid-70s along with (for part of the time) three of my colleagues and his brother, Kermit.
For several years afterward the Roosevelt office was a regular stop for me each time I passed through Washington D.C. We lost touch as our lives took different turns but I have often shared warm memories of Jonathan and our travels together. I now truly regret not reaching out sooner so we could catch up. "He was a great guy," truly understates the case! Please contact me.

Steve Potts

December 4, 2013

12/4/13 I was shocked to learn that Jonathan died last July. I miss my Renaissance friend. And my heart goes out to Kate who reflects her Dad's intelligence and personality

Martijn Kaal

July 16, 2013

We remember the Roosevelts from their days in Mawenzi Secondary School, Moshi. They were very friendly towards us pupils. It is 50 years ago now!
We talked about them only a few months ago at a reunion in upstate New York. Condolences and best wishes from Mo Lalani (Toronto), Sultan Amlani (Vancouver), Kumar Malde (Montreal), Bhupat Joshi (Dar es Salaam), Martijn Kaal (Netherlands)

Peter Railton

July 9, 2013

Dear Laine, We miss very much the sight of you and Jonathan launching your kayaks from the beach and setting out intrepidly from the harbor. We'll always remember the pleasure of Jonathan's lively mind and wry manner. Hearing about his work with a reading group in prison reminds us of just how deeply his humanity and commitment ran beneath the surface. We'll be thinking of you, and hoping that you'll grace Little Port L'Hebert with your presence again some day. Warmly, Peter & Rebecca

Steve Blanchette

July 7, 2013

Laine and family; we are so sorry for your loss. As your neighbor in Sudbury it was great fun to golf and play tennis with Jonathan or to just chat, what a great fella he was and great neighbors to have at Twin Ash Farm. I will remember his well schooled tennis strokes, and taking him to York; Maine to hit the little white ball. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Steve,Anne, amd children

July 5, 2013

We remember Jonathan fondly from the early 1970s in Ghana. With keen humor, he was great with all the kids, as well as being an officer with great potential. It was a sad day when he left government service. May Jonathan rest in peace. Tom and Kay Twetten

Olga Lehovich

July 4, 2013

Dear Laine and family, I am so sad to learn of Jonathan's death, knowing how you all mourned Peter's death in February. Peace to you all. Olga Lehovich

June 30, 2013

To Laine and the family of our neighbor Jonathan Roosevelt, we extend our deep sympathy.
Neil and Margaret Brady
Sudbury, MA

June 30, 2013

Jonathan and I served together at the Embassy in Ghana. He and his family
were our very best friends during our three years in East Africa. My wife, Gay, and I pass our very best wishes to his wife and all his family members. He left to soon. Vance and Gay Brehm

Showing 1 - 11 of 11 results

Duckett Funeral Home of J. S. Waterman

656 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, MA 01776

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Sign JONATHAN ROOSEVELT's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

January 1, 2018

Charlie Kurtz posted to the memorial.

April 9, 2015

Malcolm Harper posted to the memorial.

February 24, 2015

Boyd Plowman posted to the memorial.