Roger Whiteman

Whiteman Roger Mitchell Died on June 7, 2022, at age 92. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Roger grew up in Merion, Pennsylvania. He attended Episcopal Academy, Kenyon College, and Harvard Law School, after which he married Mary Jeannette (MJ) Suggs in 1956. They were married for 62 years until her death in 2018. Roger is survived by his three children, Emily Ann Stanislaw, Adam Whiteman, and Kate Giangrasso and six grandchildren, Jeffrey, Erik, Amy, Gabrielle, Sofia, and Vivianna. Roger lived in Strafford for 60 years and practiced law in Philadelphia at Whiteman, Bankes and Chebot. He was also involved in many community projects - among the more notable ones were putting in a park at the Strafford train station and being a member of the Tredyffrin Township Library Foundation. His love of history, especially local history, led to his involvement at the Old Eagle Schoolhouse and Cemetery where he served on the board of trustees for many years. He also had a passion for gardening and had a large backyard garden that yearly yielded huge quantities of vegetables. This passion also led to his deep involvement with Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens where in the late 1970's he was part of a small group that "carefully and methodically planned the creation of an organization to support the arboretum, to be called the 'Friends of Jenkins Arboretum.'" Over the years, Roger did much of the legal work for the arboretum and served on the board of trustees, where he was often lovingly chided by his colleagues for asking "way too many" questions and wanting "way too much" information on things. However, it was his concern for a deep level of detail that showed that he always had the best interests of the arboretum front of mind. Socially, Roger loved getting together with college friends and their families for New Year's Day Mummers Parades and 4th of July parties in Harrisburg where they celebrated together, and often proclaimed, "LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!". Additionally, he enjoyed running, listening to classical music, studying Italian renaissance art, travelling, and vacationing in Maine and Stone Harbor, NJ. In his lifetime, he read many types of literature: world history, religious studies, novels, poetry, the Greek plays and even mythology. And had he not been an attorney, he probably would have been just as happy just to sit and read, and perhaps teach. Known for his quick wit and for his storytelling abilities, he also loved to question society's norms and would often spontaneously quiz friends and family on various topics. He was forever curious about the origin of things - life, plants, animals, religion and so on- and his naturally inquisitive mind contributed to the positive impact he had as a lawyer, a friend, a community leader, and a family man. There is no doubt that he will be missed by many, but if he made it to heaven, God certainly has no rest. He gave his body to medical science, so there will be no funeral or ceremonial services.