Born in Ithaca, New York to Marilyn and Clarence Smith on January 2, 1950, Roger John Smith was the second baby to arrive in Tompkins County in that New Year,  and the second boy in his family. His brother, Richard, was born three years earlier.  His younger sister, Arlene, was born three years later. Roger was in 7th grade when his family relocated from Ithaca to Greene, New York. He graduated from Greene High School in 1968.  After high school, Roger attended the State University of New York at Oneonta where he majored in English, minored as a peace activist, and met Jacqueline (Jackie) Green. He graduated in 1972 and soon after married Jackie. They moved to Ithaca where their son, Aaron, was born in 1979.  Aaron thrived; the marriage didn’t. Roger met Jan (Bridgeford) Beckman in 1982 while he was the Executive Director of Challenge Industries and she was the Executive Director of H.O.M.E.S, Inc. They married on October 12, 1985. Their son, Nathan, came home in 1988, and their daughter, Marian, in 1989. Three children, two mortgages, and a minivan later, Roger decided to leave manufacturing consulting work and study for the ministry.  He receive a Master of Divinity Degree in 1998 from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, an ecumenical seminary in Rochester, New York.  Roger found his professional home and personal fulfillment as a United Methodist pastor. He especially enjoyed leading worship services and embraced the challenge of tackling difficult, provocative subjects from the pulpit with grace, humor, and political acumen.  Roger’s passions included cooking, gardening, and a great glass of wine. He was an avid reader, photographer, a lover of opera, live theater, and college basketball. Though he could fix or build anything with tools, he never got the hang of texting. A clergy member of the Upper New York Annual Conference, Roger served under appointment at the Forest Home Chapel, Big Flats’ United Methodist  Church, and Newark First United Methodist Church. On February 24, 2016, Roger died from complications related to esophageal cancer. Roger was buried at Greensprings Natural Cemetery on March 1, 2016. He was predeceased by his brother and parents.
Roger is survived by wife, Jan; children, Aaron, Nathan, Marian (Daniel Vidal); sister Arlene (Jim Hertzog); sister-in-law Susan (Richard Smith, deceased), nieces Laura (Ben Eason), Jamie (Eric Pierce), nephew Daniel Smith(Bethany), and close family members, Millie, Jean, Nancy, Lorraine, Rachel (Tim Gallagher), Amy (Bruno Schickel), Anne (Brian) Earl and Sandy Arnold.
A memorial service will be held at Roger’s home church, Freeville United Methodist, on June 25, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the following organizations: Freeville United Methodist, UMCOR, Habitat for Humanity, Dryden Southworth Library, Ithaca Cancer Resource Center, or a local food pantry. 
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