by IAN WATKINS

Roger’s funeral on Friday, May 5th was attended by over 80 people, including family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. The day was warm and sunny and the organist played “There’s No Business Like Show Business” as we left the chapel. Earlier we heard “Londonderry Air” (Danny Boy) and Dave Brubeck’s “How High The Moon”.

The wake took place at Roger’s local pub, The Minnis, on top of the cliff overlooking the beach at Minnis Bay near his home.

Ex-colleagues from Variety bidding their last farewell were:
Lee Simkins, former London office General Manager
Fabienne Lewis, Roger’s secretary/personal assistant
David Copeman, former London Ad Salesman
Zoe Hoenig, former London Office Assistant

My brother, Andrew, spoke a few words of thanks and talked about Roger as a father. I read some of the tributes that appear on Simesite and many guests asked for the Simesite website address so that they could read all of them.

Jean-Luc Renaud, Roger’s most recent business partner, read the tribute that he has posted on his site: www.dvd-intelligence.com

by PAT WATKINS

I wish to say thank you to everyone who sent tributes to Simesite and to me, Andy and Ian personally for Roger.

The response has been overwhelming and the content of them extremely kind and heartwarming.

Roger was energetic, enthusiastic and a born optimist. His courage in dealing with his illness was remarkable.

We had 46 years of happy marriage with lots of laughs, lots of love and just a few tears. Words cannot express how much I miss him.

Thank you once again.

Pat

by Abie Torres

My niece, Debbie and her husband Eddie, were with us on Easter. After dinner, Dibbie was thumbing through Besas’ Inside Variety. Pointing to a photo of Roger she said, “Uncle Abie, I don’t remember him.” I told Debbie that Roger was from our London office and recalled the day we, in advertising production, decided to play a gag on Roger and on John Willis. During the UK and Argentina conflict over the Falkland Islands, an Argentine torpedo somehow hit a British ship. The New York Daily News ran a front page photo of the idle ship in the waters of the South Atlantic. We had a blowup made of that front page. When Roger and John walked into the office the next day, we played a tape of Patti LuPone singing “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.” Roger’s reply was “That was grand, Thank you. Will talk to you chaps later on.” With that, they went upstairs to meet with Syd.

Roger, it has been a privilege knowing you.

by Lee Simkins

It was Roger’s son, my old “mucker” Andy, who told me, back in the early ’80s, that his father was looking for an office junior at Variety and asked me if I was interested. I thought it may do me for a year whilst I decided which career path to follow. That year lasted 20 years but then, I had been hooked the very first time I met Roger and Pat at my interview, which took place in the kitchen of their home in Shooters Hill, over a cup of Earl Grey and an endless supply of chocolate biscuits. I immediately felt at home in their company. They looked after me so well that day and continued to do so during the years that followed.
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by Morrie Gelman

I was distressed to learn of Roger’s passing. The news was a complete shock. I didn’t even know he was sick.
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