Roger John William Siebel

Roger John William Siebel

Legends leave memories that never die. So while February 5, 2025 brought closure to a life richly lived, the legacy of Roger John William Siebel remains vibrant with his stories, sayings, and service.

Roger, 77, of Chatham, New Jersey, was born in New York City on April 19, 1947. Early years in the boroughs sparked Roger's street-smarts which served him well from Brooklyn Tech through the boardrooms and courtrooms of his career. It was that moxie that gave air to his love of New York and his confidence to defend the people and causes most important to him.

Roger's intellectual ambitions spanned from the Academy of Aeronautics and the Newark School of Engineering, where he earned his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, to NYU Stern School of Business where he obtained his MBA. Roger further achieved his JD from New York Law School.

This same intellectual pursuit marked his executive career growth through Bell Labs, Western Electric, AT&T, and InterPay. But it was his subsequent passion as an entrepreneur for numerous startup ventures that resulted in his most fulfilling professional role being a Man of Letters at Rutgers University, where he taught students finance and accounting for small businesses. His students were fortunate to receive real-world experience and many, many questionable jokes.

Roger was an Eagle Scout, a formative rank that foreshadowed his lifelong commitment to service. He was on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (link: https://www.breakthrought1d.org/newjerseymetro), raising funds to search for a cure to Type 1 diabetes, a disease his son Justin developed at age seven. Additionally, Roger was an enduring champion of the Shepherds of Youth, a charity that supports St Michael's school in Newark, NJ. (link: https://www.shepherdsofyouthnj.org). On Thanksgiving, he enjoyed giving out turkeys in Newark to those in need then rushing home to host 20 family members.

Roger's brilliance was matched only by his witty personality. He had a way of turning the most ordinary moments into something memorable -whether it was a trip to King's grocery store, a meal at the Bean Curd Chinese Restaurant, or a conversation over breakfast at the Broadway Diner. He created community everywhere he went, drawing people in with his humor, wit, and generosity.

Roger relentlessly sought the experiences, vacations and traditions that have since spun into lore. No destination, topic or institution was off limits to Roger who encouraged life-long learning, spirited conversation, and the types of fun that sharpened his wit and (at times) made his humor unforgettable. From Operas at The Met followed by dinners at The Rainbow Room to watching cockfights in San Juan. His was the hunt for "the best." The best Montepulciano, best blueberry pancakes, the best Thanksgiving Day parade spot, beach on Nantucket and best novels (Cormack McCarthy was a favorite).

We honor Roger for being a prime mover of industry, a paragon of wisdom, a lover of Jeopardy! and hater of sharks. He was a role model of reliability, resiliency, and generosity. But his self-proclaimed highest achievement was being patriarch to his kids: Heather (Steve) Bond, Kimberly (John) Bruschi, Marissa (Adam) Siero, and Justin Siebel. His allegiance extended to his loving partner Ann McHenry; his five grandchildren: Hailey, Grant, Charlie, Hudson, and Peter; his extended family: Guy Hatfield, Jenne (Kevin) Whitelaw, Parker (Amanda) Hatfield, Katherine Franklin, and Tara (Don) Forgette.

He is survived by his sisters Valerie (Richard) Claps and Claudia Siebel; and was predeceased by his parents Adolph and Natalie Siebel and his sister, Diana Biehayn.

Roger's dear friends, who he referred to as brothers, Frank Russo, Jerry Armani, Paul Chase, and Guy Hatfield, will forever cherish his memory. They regularly enjoyed "wasting a day" fishing, ski trips in Europe, and Italian dinners in Brooklyn.

Roger could always be found in the driver's seat, outmaneuvering others, straining the speed limit, back windows covered in police benevolence stickers, singing offkey along to Cousin Brucie's 50's hits. Eschewing his seat belt, Roger carried tickets to the show, a reservation for dinner, and a keychain inscribed with Dylan Thomas' refrain: "Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

Because that's how legends live.

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Donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation can be made in Roger's honor at: (https://www2.breakthrought1d.org/site/Donation2?idb=826559298&df_id=2373&mfc_pref=T&2373.donation=form1)

A celebration of life will take place in Spring/Summer 2025 in New Jersey. If you wish to be notified about the details, please send an email to kesiebel@gmail.com with your contact info. Thank you.