Roger Remmell Clisham ’38

The death of Roger Clisham on July 17, 1995, came as a shock to many, since he was known in widely different fields, among them the law, the Navy, and local Connecticut politics.

A graduate of Lincoln School in NYC, he majored in politics and earned his LLB at Columbia law school. He served in the Navy from 1942-46, and was recalled from 1951-53. He continued in the Reserves and retired as a captain. In 1954 he joined Creole Petroleum, a part of Exxon, and served in their legal offices in Venezuela, New York, Australia, and Singapore. In 1975 he returned to the New York legal office.

Upon his retirement in 1983, he did pro bono work for Legal Services for the Elderly. He also involved himself in local government in Southbury, Conn., and was elected first selectman in 1985, the first Democrat in 52 years to hold the office. He was popular and respected by leaders in both parties, and his legacy included longrange planning and a needed health district.

He was a man of probity, wit, and scholarship, though he downplayed these attributes. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Patricia Drain Clisham, and daughters Elaine '77 and Susan Nesbitt. We shall miss him.

The Class of 1938