Roger Smith

SMITH, ROGER HOLLIS age 76, of Albuquerque, passed away on Friday, January 11, 2013, after a long battle with lung cancer. A longtime homebuilder and developer, he was the older of two brothers born to Walter and Lucille Smith. After graduation from Highland High School where he was a standout basketball player, he attended UNM's ROTC program and played briefly for the Lobos, remaining an enthusiastic fan and season ticket holder to this day. While in the US Marine Corps, he gained the rank of First Lieutenant before deciding to leave and pursue a business of his own. Married to the love of his life, Marjorie, the young couple settled in Albuquerque with a daughter and new twins. His father and uncle were contractors, and seeing opportunity for himself, he soon obtained his contractor's license. Remodeling houses was too easy and he began taking on larger commercial projects, jobs that he would visit each week in his small airplane. At one point, he reluctantly sold his plane, required to quit flying as a loan condition for the next deal he was working on. In 1975, friend Ben Abbruzzo talked him into building some houses on land at the base of the Sandias in Albuquerque, and a long history of homebuilding began. With a vacation home in the British Virgin Islands for years, Roger was able to impart his love for the water to his family and friends, orchestrating many holiday gatherings. In later years, he realized his dream of becoming a yacht owner, and was happiest cruising on his boat, The Rio Grande Belle, with Marjorie. Roger came to know the Lord and was baptized along with his parents at a young age. His faith was strong and an inspiration to his family, his many bible study friends, and his Hoffmantown Church family. He is survived by his wife Marjorie W. Smith; brother Steven Kelly Smith; son Roger H. Smith, Jr. of Albuquerque, NM; daughter Leslie L. Lucas and husband Reggie of Montclair, NJ; daughter Rachel L. Simpson and husband Brett of Vancouver, BC, Canada; and three grandchildren: Devon Harte and husband Brett of Jupiter, FL, Aaron Simpson of North Canton, OH, and Julian Lucas, currently attending Harvard. He will be missed by many other family and friends that loved him. Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 20, 2013 from 5:00 -7:00 pm at FRENCH - Wyoming. Services will be held at Hoffmantown Church on Monday, January 21, 2013 at 11;00 am. Memorial donations can be made to Navigator Ministry - The Navigators, P.O. Box 6000, Colorado Springs, CO 80934