Roger Pies

1942 - 2024

Roger Pies, distinguished tax attorney who tried cases before United States District Courts, the United States Court of Federal Claims, and the United States Tax Court, and argued cases before United States Courts of Appeals, whose love of bridge, golf, and the Washington football team in its heyday was only surpassed by his love and devotion to family, died gracefully in his sleep on September 26, 2024. He was 82.

Born June 13, 1942 in Lockport, New York, Roger was the third son of Louis and Thelma Pies. He attended Cornell University for his undergraduate studies, the State University of New York at Buffalo for his law degree and New York University where he received an LLM in taxation.

Roger married his wife, Sheila, in 1967. He said marrying Sheila was the best decision he ever made. They were married for 57 years. The couple had two children, Laurel and Russell, whom he loved dearly and said were the best thing to ever happen to him.

He loved his work and practiced law for over fifty years, retiring at 77. He was known as an extremely creative thinker who was always two thoughts ahead of everyone else, always skipped steps, and yet was always right once you caught up.

Roger was a gifted bridge player and achieved the rank of life master as a young man. When newly married, he and his wife, Sheila, would think nothing of working a long day and then spending hours at night playing bridge in various New York clubs.

Roger believed in the meritocracy of ideas, thinking hard, doing what was right, that his wife Sheila was an overbidder and that Michael Jordan was the GOAT.

He loved telling stories, writing in longhand on yellow legal pads, remembering long-ago bridge hands, the joy of ice cream bars and Sahlen hot dogs (IYKYK), driving long distances, surprise visits and golfing with his son. He knew he still had work to do on his jump shot and short game.

Quick-witted, thoughtful and truly kind, Roger leaves a legacy of friends, clients and loved ones who will miss him very much.

A celebration of life will be held November 17, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Mission Valley Country Club in Nokomis, Florida.

Roger is survived by his wife, Sheila; his daughter Laurel (Michael Carey), his son Russell, his brothers and daily companions, David W. Pies and Douglas H. Pies, a loving extended family and the best dog ever in the history of the world, Magic.