Roger S. Leff

Roger S. Leff died unexpectedly Friday, Aug. 22, 2014, in Fairbanks, just eight days before his 60th birthday.
He was born Roger Scott Francis Leff, the fourth child of Leonard and Dorothy Leff, on Aug. 30, 1954, and grew up with his sister Barb, and brothers Larry and Bob, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He was a proud uncle to their eight children - he loved his in-laws Lorraine, Jim, and Linda, and all of the great-grand nieces and nephews that followed over the years.
Roger came to Alaska in 1976-77 and settled in the Matanuska Valley. He met and married Diane Kendrick Adey and they had a son, Corey Leonard, born in 1979. Corey was raised in Alaska and Virginia. He is an emergency firefighter EMT and worked for many years on the Clear Air Force Station. In 2012, Corey and his wife, Ashley, moved to Nevada and he went to work for the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California. He and Ashley have two children, Isyabella Nicole, born in 2012, and Benjamin Leonard, born in 2013.
Roger also had two daughters, with his second wife, KimAdelia Leff, who he met at KABN radio, in Long Island, Big Lake in 1982. AmeliaJane was born in Fairbanks in 1997, and is a high school senior. Ruby Lorraine was born in Anchorage while the family was living in Unalaska, in 1999, and is a freshman. He spoke proudly of his three children and their many accomplishments to all he knew, and was always quick to say how much he loved them.
Roger loved music, and was particularly fond of the blues and bluegrass. He played upright and electric bass, guitar and harmonica, with many bands across the state during last 37 years. Cabin Fever, John and Rog, Spudgrass, Mars Bonfire, Amnesia Brothers and Northern River are just a few of the many that might be remembered. Roger had a distinctive voice that many came to know listening to him on the community and public radio stations he worked for - KABN, KSKO in McGrath, KIAL radio and Channel 8 television in Unalaska, Dutch Harbor, and KSKA and KUAC here in Fairbanks. He was also one of the first trail reporters covering the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod for public radio, and enjoyed those adventures immensely. He studied broadcast journalism at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and graduated in 1992.
He remained interested in community matters, and held a special place in his heart for the Rescue Mission and the folks who lived and worked there. His love for broadcasting continued as well, and he volunteered with Fairbanks Open Radio to help them establish a low-power radio station.
During the last two years of his life he enjoyed the companionship of Vicki Merchlewitz. He continued to play music with several friends, and on occasion with his family. Playing with his daughters was one dream come true. He often talked about the great joy he felt singing with the Peace Choir, and new friendships he found there. Many who knew him are sharing their memories of his laugh and smile, his love for his children, family and friends, and all of the music he played and shared through the last four decades.
Please join us for a celebration of his life at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fairbanks. The UUFF is located at 4448 Pikes Landing Road, across from Princess Riverside Lodge. 

Sunset doesn't last all evening - a mind can blow those clouds away
After all this my love is up and must be leaving. It's not always going to be this gray.
Now the darkness only stays the night time. In the morning it will fade away.
Daylight is good at arriving at the right time. It's not always going to be this gray.
All things must pass. All things must pass away.
All things must pass. All things must pass away.
- George Harrison