Roger was my dear friend. We rode horses together, went on double dates and practiced football hour after hot hour. I remember him most for his great sense of humor. We would ride in his ‘53 Mercury and tell jokes one after the other with sidesplitting results. We’d talk about girls and about what we wanted to do with our life.
I stayed close to home, going to Cal State Hayward. He went off to Humboldt State to study environmental studies. He was ahead of his time. Roger loved Humboldt, but longed to return to the Bay Area. He planned to transfer to CSH after his sophomore year. I looked forward to his return.
Roger died in a river accident later that year. His parents were devastated. Being an only child made it even more tragic. I was working part-time for a floral delivery service and had to deliver and setup flowers for his funeral. It was so hard.
I’m so glad to have had his friendship. He made me a better person. I think of him still to this day. He lived his short life really well. Maybe I laugh a little longer, and value friendship and life a little more because of knowing him.
Ronald Veronda (1966)
Roger was my dear friend. We rode horses together, went on double dates and practiced football hour after hot hour. I remember him most for his great sense of humor. We would ride in his ‘53 Mercury and tell jokes one after the other with sidesplitting results. We’d talk about girls and about what we wanted to do with our life.
I stayed close to home, going to Cal State Hayward. He went off to Humboldt State to study environmental studies. He was ahead of his time. Roger loved Humboldt, but longed to return to the Bay Area. He planned to transfer to CSH after his sophomore year. I looked forward to his return.
Roger died in a river accident later that year. His parents were devastated. Being an only child made it even more tragic. I was working part-time for a floral delivery service and had to deliver and setup flowers for his funeral. It was so hard.
I’m so glad to have had his friendship. He made me a better person. I think of him still to this day. He lived his short life really well. Maybe I laugh a little longer, and value friendship and life a little more because of knowing him.
Ron Veronda