ROGER GOLDMAN

GOLDMAN--Roger O. Roger O. Goldman, 79, of New York, NY passed away on July 1st, 2024, surrounded by his wife (Fern) and four children (Jodi, Cindi, Jake, and Ben). Roger - or Rog - was born on March 9th, 1945 to Erwin and Dorothy Goldman. Roger spent the first years of his life living with his grandparents in the Bronx before moving to Manhattan when his sister (Amy) and brother (Sam) were born. The early years of his childhood were "idyllic," with the New York Giants baseball team playing a huge role. Some of Roger's last words were recounting the passion and joy with which Willie Mays played. In 1955(ish), the Goldman family moved to Teaneck, NJ, where Roger spent his adolescent years proudly causing trouble. His happy place was in Pomona, NY with his adored Grandparents Harris and Ida. Roger received his B.A in Marketing from NYU and his J.D. from American University. Roger's career spanned decades with many reinventions along the way. Recently Roger brought his extensive experience to corporate and non-profit boards, including serving as Chairman of the Executive Committee of American Express National Bank. More importantly, he served as a trusted advisor to the next generation of business leaders and supported causes that were important to him. Roger had an enormous impact on anyone who spent time with him. In his later years, he said he "wanted to be remembered for being a husband, father, grandfather, and friend." As a husband to Fern, he was thoughtful, caring, and full of intellectual energy. As a father to his four children, he spent every moment telling them how much he loved them and encouraging them to live their lives to the fullest. As the "GP" to Max, Leo, and Noah, he was arguably his best self- silly, loud, and filled with joy. To his nieces and nephews, he was Uncle Banana. As a loyal friend to so many, he was always there to listen and offer valued advice - both solicited and unsolicited. Roger's favorite quote was from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." Roger spent every day leading a purposeful life. Roger was fundamentally guided by his values and doing what he thought was right. For that lesson and so many more, we will forever be grateful. Roger is survived by his wife Fern Portnoy, his sister Amy, his children and their spouses Jodi (Rich), Cindi (Carrol), Jake (Roni), and Ben (Jessi), his grandchildren (Max, Leo, Noah, and future grandchildren), his wife's family (Rachael, Mark, Caroline, Lucy), and her step-daughters (Kelly, Mary, Megan). We were not done talking with him. In tribute to Roger's legacy, he would want you to remember that "what you send out is what you get back!"