Obituary of Roger B. Taft

Roger B. Taft, 83, passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon at the Wesley Nursing Home. Born in New York City on February 24, 1923, to Roger B. and Helen S. Hapman Taft, he attended Horace Mann Prep School there. He then entered the United States Army and proudly served his country, attaining the rank of Technician Third Grade. Roger was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific medal for his action and expert marksmanship in the India Burma occupation as well as the Victory, Good Conduct and China Memorial ribbon. Following discharge in 1946, he graduated from Columbia University in 1948 with a degree in business management and data processing. He met and fell in love with G. Rae S. Smith, and on December 8, 1950 they were married. That union lasted for forty-eight years until her passing in 1999. He moved to the Amsterdam area in 1953, and was employed as a business manager at Mohasco. He also had worked for IBM in Rockland County as a data systems analyst and retired from the State Of New York Office Of General Services in the same capacity. At one time, Roger was a member of the Perth School Board Of Education. He was a member of the John J. Wyszomirski Post 701 American Legion, and The China-India-Burma Service Group. In his later years, he enjoyed recounting his experiences during the War. Following his move to Saratoga to the assisted living at Wesley and later to its nursing facility, he made many friends, including Anna Kellerhouse, who predeceased him. He loved to arm wrestle, eat pizza, and bowl with the caring staff at Wesley, whom his family credits with enriching and extending his twilight years. The Hospice of Saratoga also provided comfort and care to Roger in his time of need. In addition to his parents and wife, Roger also lost a son, Roger W. Taft, and his only sister, Helen Gardner. He leaves his surviving children: Bradley B. Taft, Leslie B. Taft of Albany, Robert G. Taft of Greenwood SC, and Susan L. Wolf and her husband Karl of Saratoga Springs. A celebration of his life will take place Tuesday at 1:00 pm at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue. Interment is in Fairview Cemetery with military honors. A calling hour will begin at 12 noon Tuesday, prior to the service. It is the request of the family that contributions be made in his memory to Saratoga Hospice, 179 Lawrence St., or to the Wesley Foundation, 131 Lawrence St., both Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.