Roger C. Smith ’50

Roger died July 13, 2025, in Darien, Conn. 

At Princeton, he was on the crew and swimming teams, sang in the Glee Club, and was a member of Quadrangle. After half of his sophomore year, he enlisted in the Army and served a year in Japan. Returning to Princeton, he graduated with honors in 1950. Following a motorcycle trip around Europe that summer he went to Harvard Business School and graduated in 1952. 

Roger then joined Motorola in Chicago, where he became vice president and treasurer. In 1971, he joined Phelps Dodge Corp. in New York City as vice president of finance. 

He moved to New Canan, Conn., where he and his family were active in community life. He was a member of the town board of finances for 17 years, served as chair of the building committee for the middle school expansion and renovation, as well as other numerous leadership positions at clubs at his church.  

Roger is survived by his wife of 70 years, Nell; their three children, Jeffrey, Jennifer, and Suart; seven grandsons; and five great-grandchildren.