Roger C. Smith, aged 97, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday, July 13, 2025. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on December 11, 1927, the son of Marilyn Maw and Bradford Bixby Smith. His family moved to Scarsdale , New York in 1936 where he graduated from Scarsdale High School. During his high school years, he was active in debating, was on the tennis team, studied piano at Juilliard School of Music in New York City and played baritone in the school band. After high school, he went to Princeton University, where he was on the crew and swimming teams and in the University Glee Club. After half of his sophomore year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served a year in the occupation army of Japan. Returning to Princeton, he graduated with honors in 1950. Following a motorcycle trip around Europe that summer, he went to Harvard Business School graduating in 1952.

Roger joined Motorola Inc. in Chicago in 1952 working in product financing, credit and eventually in treasury functions. He became the youngest corporate officer not a member of the owner family. During his years in the Chicago area, he renewed his acquaintance with and married his beloved Nell (Nell Joann Becherer of Indianapolis). After a short stint living in north Chicago, they settled in Northbrook, Il where their three children – Jeff, Jennifer an Stuart – were born. They were both generous volunteers to the school systems. Roger was an active member of the Jaycees in Chicago and dabbled occasionally in suburban politics. The family moved to Glencoe in 1964 where Nell and Roger became active golf and tennis players at Skokie Country Club.

Roger left Motorola as Vice President and Treasurer in 1971 to join Phelps Dodge Corporation in New York City as Vice President – Finance. The family moved to New Canaan, CT where they became active in community life. They joined First Presbyterian Church where Roger joined the choir and the Gentlemen Songsters Group, served on several committees and became Clerk of Session. He was a member of the town’s Board of Finance for 17 years, served as chair of the building committee for the first Saxe Middle School expansion and renovation, was a board member and president of the United Way of New Canaan. He was a governor and treasurer of Woodway Country Club and enjoyed and chaired the Fairfield County tennis group Good Old Boys.

Roger retired from Phelps Dodge in 1987 and joined the National Executive Service Corps as a consultant mostly to school systems in Fairfield County and the Bronx. Throughout his adult life, he enjoyed tennis, golf, traveling and gardening but mostly the time spent with his beloved wife of 70 years and the families of their three children.

Roger is survived by his wife, Nell; his three children Jeff (Janet), Jennifer (Kent), Stuart (Alexa), seven grandsons and five great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan or a charity of your choice.  

A Celebration of Life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church 178 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT 06840, on Friday July 25, 2025 at 11:00 a.m..

The Family is being compassionately cared for by the staff at Hoyt Funeral Home 199 Main Street, New Canaan Ct 06840. For online condolences please visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com.