Roger G. Imhoff Jr.

Roger G. Imhoff, Jr. 1938 - 2012 PITTSFIELD The Rev. Roger Gordon Imhoff, Jr., 73, died on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, after battling cancer. Roger was born Nov. 30, 1938, in Keokuk, Iowa, son of the Rev. Roger Imhoff, Sr. and Virginia Milner Imhoff. His lifelong love of tennis began in high school where he was runner-up in Kentucky's State High School Tournament in 1956. He taught tennis every summer and helped desegregate the tennis courts of his hometown, Louisville, KY. He earned a B.A. in Social Science from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, in 1960, and his Theological M.A. from Wittenberg in 1964. He took graduate courses at Mennonite Seminary and Notre Dame University in Indiana, and Union Theological Seminary in New York. He was ordained as a Lutheran Pastor on May 11, 1964, and throughout his ministry served ELCA congregations in Elkhart, IN; New Rochelle, NY; Mt. Kisco, NY; and Stamford and Milford, CT. Throughout his life, Roger was active in interracial dialogues and community building based on his Biblical faith that all humans are created in God's image. He often highlighted the social conscience of German Church Reformer Martin Luther and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the words of his Savior Jesus Christ, "Love one another as I have loved you." Roger volunteered on the Boards of several Lutheran social ministries and was honored as Lutheran Services "Person of the Year" in New York City. Active in interfaith work wherever he lived, he promoted the work of cross-cultural fellowship. He and his wife, Robin, spent three months at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem in 1994, learning about the history and aspirations of Christian, Jewish, and Islamic people. He and his wife were active at Christ Church Episcopal and Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheffield, where Roger assisted with worship, sang in the choir, taught confirmation classes, and served on the Vestry Council. He married the love of his life, Carol Robin Moroz, on June 23, 1979. She died on May 28, 2009. He was stepfather to Robin's five children: Laurie Werner and husband Jan of Pittsfield; John Moroz and wife Kathleen of Salt Lake City, UT; Andrew Moroz and wife Lois and Lisa Moroz and husband Ron Cohen, both of Philadelphia; and Susanna Sweeney and husband Pete of Lower Gwynedd, PA. Roger and Robin had eight grandchildren. Roger also leaves three brothers, Charles and David of Florida, and Stephen of Kentucky; and a sister, Virginia Simpson of Florida. MEMORIAL NOTICE: A memorial service will be held at a future date. Memorial donations may be made to HospiceCare of the Berkshires in care of FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Reflections and memories may be sent to the family www.finnertyandstevens.com "Blessed are those who die in the Lord; from henceforth shall they rest from their labors."