Roger Campbell Spaeder

Born December 20, 1943, in Cleveland, Ohio, the only child of Ferdinand and Luceil (Campbell), Roger received his Bachelor of Science in mathematics at Bowling Green State University. Following college, he moved to Washington, DC, where he initially worked as a mathematician/analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency and later a math teacher at Kensington Middle School – all the while studying for his law degree at The George Washington University.

From 1972 to 1976, Roger served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. In 1976, he was encouraged by a former colleague, Roger Zuckerman, to join him in private practice. The “Two Rogers” as they would affectionately become known, forged a lifelong friendship, and with William Taylor and an ever-growing collection of attorneys, built a successful law firm. At Zuckerman Spaeder, Roger is remembered for his careful and tenacious advocacy, his thoughtful mentorship of generations of young lawyers, and his leadership of the firm in its formative years.

Roger Spaeder passed away October 20, 2023. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Frances (Sutherland); her siblings Mary Sutherland and Joseph Sutherland (Ann); Roger and Fran’s two sons and their families—Michael and Shannon, Joseph, Brendan, and Peter; and Matthew and Gail, Augustus, and Samuel; nieces Allison Jacobs and Jennifer Hubler (Brian); and nephew Stephen Sutherland (Natalie). Roger’s friends, family, and colleagues will remember him as a conscientious man of high integrity who gained great satisfaction from taking life’s challenges head on. He was thrilled to be a playful “Gramps” to his grandsons and cherished his wife and family above all else.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Roger’s memory to the Southern Poverty Law Center (www.splcenter.org) and Save The Children (savethechildren.org).