Roger Williams III

Roger Williams III died peacefully on November 9th, 2024. He was born on April 20, 1938 in Canton, MA where he spent his childhood with his sister Mira and brother Peter. He began sailing at a young age, a passion throughout his life which included winning races with his father and brother in Scituate and racing twice to Bermuda while owning various sailboats over the years that he kept in Scituate and Marion MA. In his early years he was also a gifted trombone player and had a love of music throughout his life.

As a young man he attended Colby College, served in the Air Force Reserves, and then found his way to New York to work as an advertising executive in the 60’s where he met his wife Uta Schrader. They were devoted companions and partners to each other over 62 years of marriage. They embraced their first years of marriage working in Manhattan during the week and spending weekends at a cottage in Montauk before making their way back to Massachusetts and settling in Marshfield Hills where their daughter Kathrin and son Roger IV were born.

After settling on the South Shore, first in Marshfield then in Scituate, Roger worked for John Hancock while raising his children with Uta. They established a tight group of friends and relished the opportunity to gather with this group for the remainder of their lives. He was fun to be around. Charming, a great storyteller and quick with a laugh. He also discovered a passion for endurance training and cross country skiing in the Winter and did regular century rides on his bike including participating in the Pan Mass Challenge Fundraiser for MS several times.

Roger also became more religious in his 40’s and for the remainder of his life, singing in various church choirs and being a member of several churches in the South Shore over the years. He demonstrated his christian beliefs as a true example of a good samaritan, doing good deeds for others. He volunteered in prisons as a mentor to inmates, came up with the idea and provided religious music and services in nursing homes throughout the South Shore and was part of the Gideon’s, distributing free bibles for those in need. He worked later in his career as a home health aid, driving throughout the South Shore providing assistance and comfort to the elderly.

He loved cars and always had a well maintained Crown Vic, Buick Le Sabre or Grand Marquis with a trunk filled with supplies to be ready for any type of weather or issue that might arise. He was always prepared with an outer layer or boot tread to match the weather he knew would be coming and embraced the opportunity to bring out the snow blower or mow the lawn right up until his last days.

Later in life he served as a Board Member of Draper Brothers, a felt and textile company in Canton the Williams family has been a part of since it’s inception in the 1850’s.

He wasn’t a follower. He was opinionated, read multiple newspapers a day, regularly discovered and pursued new interests and set his own true north for how to live on this Earth. His kind heart, wit, smile, devotion to his family and service to others will be some of the cherished memories for those that had the pleasure of knowing him. He is survived by his wife Uta, daughter Kathrin, son Roger IV, 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. May he rest in peace.