Roger Dever Pinneo

1935 - 2023

Roger Dever Pinneo of Snohomish, Washington, passed away at his recently acquired home in Marysville on November 17, 2023. He was 88 years old.

Roger was born on July 27, 1935 in Seattle on the same day and 10 minutes after his future bride, Diana, was born across the mountains in Lewiston, Idaho.

Raised as an only child of a single mom in difficult circumstances, Roger had to become self reliant at a very early age. As a 7 year old, he shuttled alone on the city bus between his mom's apartment in Ballard and his grandparents home on Queen Anne Hill, where he would often go for a good meal and nights sleep. With no siblings, his childhood best friend was his little dog, Spotty. In grade school, a few kind dads in the neighborhood took note of his fatherless state and invited him to try out with their sons for sports and to join the Boy Scouts - two platforms that were foundational in helping him to grow in knowledge, confidence and community.

Around 1948, he and his mom moved from Ballard to Queen Anne Hill, where he graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1953. While there, he became an Eagle Scout and lettered in football - from then on, he was forever a very proud QA Grizzly! It was early in high school that he met and fell in love with Diana Weberling of Edmonds, his soulmate for 73 years and wife for 67. She was, in many ways, the yin to his yang - very popular and outgoing to his shy and reserved, a dreamer to his pragmatist. She and a few other close friends stretched him to think differently and more expansively about his future, encouraging him to consider going to college. He did so, enrolling and then graduating from the University of Washington in 1957, engaging along the way as both a proud Husky football player and member of Theta Chi fraternity - two associations that were lifelong points of pride and passion for him.

Roger and Diana were married in June of 1955 while he was still attending university, working full-time loading boxcars, and together with his new wife doing whatever it took to make ends meet. Roger received his BA from the UW in 1957, with Diana, a one year old son (Jeff) and another on the way (Greg) all cheering him on at graduation. He was recruited out of college to join the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company (which was acquired by Mass Mutual in 1995) as an agent - an association and a practice that grew in breadth and depth until, at age 75, he retired in 2010. Roger's colleagues and clients were like family members to him - he took great joy in advising and supporting people and businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest for nearly six decades. After several moves in the Seattle area, the couple settled in Edmonds in 1968, raising their family while building on their many friendships, new and old. When their sons left for college, they expanded their beloved mountain cabin on the Skykomish River in Baring to become their dream home, where they lived and built friendships and community for over 20 years.

In 1976, Roger experienced a transformation from 'religion' to 'relationship' in his encounter with the person of Jesus Christ through the ministry of Young Life. His decision to follow Christ forever changed how he saw and loved the world around him. With Diana also coming to faith at this time, the two embarked on a lifetime journey of service to others - often, the most vulnerable in the communities in which they lived. If you were lonely, in any form of need, without a father or suffering in any way, Roger would be among the first to 'see' you, befriend you and come alongside you with an understanding ear and tangible support. This was especially evident in their years in the mountains, where the people of Baring whom they had loved and served from their home (known as 'The Soup Kitchen') named a town park in their honor.

Through Scouting and early experiences hunting and hiking in the mountains, Roger developed a lifelong love of the outdoors. As a young man, his closest friends were his hunting partners. Together, they grew as men and encountered the lessons that can only be learned deep in a canyon, high on a mountain ridge or in a warm elk tent at the end of the day. He imparted much of what he learned and experienced to his sons, who count their times in 'dad's classroom' among the most meaningful of their youth. As a fatherless child, Roger loved being a dad and a 'Papa' to his grandkids, never missing an opportunity to teach new things, initiate adventures, coach little league teams or cheer his kids on in any endeavor. To countless young people in their sphere, from those down the street to those in summer camps for abused, neglected and burn victim kids, Roger and Diana were 'Papa and Mimi', loving each other and all their 'neighbors' - young and old, near and far - with Christlike love and joy.

Roger was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Diana, who passed away a year ago to the week. He is survived by his two sons Jeff (Janey) and Greg (Shauna), his 10 grandchildren Amy Pinneo, Chelsea (Casey) Ward, Bryan Galeotti and Luke, Joel, Everest, Rain, Race, Cor and Teak Pinneo, as well as his 5 great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Roger's Life will be held on January 6, 2024 at 11:00 am at Camp Sambica, Bellevue, WA. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Matthew House Ministries and Cascade Christian Church Youth Ministries, both in Monroe, Washington, are recommended.