Roger died in Sandpoint, Idaho, July 23, 2009. He graduated from Oberlin College and from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio.

Roger jumped three summers (50-52) in Missoula while he was in medical school. After his internship in Salt Lake City, Roger completed a general surgery residency in Seattle where he set up a surgery practice in the suburb of Burien. Following his retirement in 1991 he moved to Sandpoint.