Roger Lansing Offen ’38

Roger died Nov. 23, 2005, in Atlantic Beach, Fla., a victim of pneumonia.

He was a native of Stamford, Conn., and attended the Lawrenceville School. At Princeton he majored in biology, enrolled in ROTC, and graduated with honors.

During World War II, Roger served as an artillery officer in the Army's lst Division, "The Big Red One," fighting in Africa (for which he was awarded the Silver Star), then through the Sicily campaign, and later fighting with Gen. Patton in France. He was present when, in a highly publicized incident, the general apologized for slapping a hospitalized soldier.

Postwar, Roger entered the banking business, working for banks in Connecticut, Vermont, and Massachusetts. During two early marriages, which ended in divorce, Roger raised three children.

In 1965, while single again and working as a trust officer at New Britain National Bank, he met and married Betty Root, another employee at the bank. Theirs was a long and happy marriage.

In 1986, Roger and Betty retired to Florida, where they lived until his death. Surviving him are his wife, two daughters, a son, and three grandchildren, to each of whom the class extends its sincere condolences.