ROGER LANDER 

Roger passed away July 15. He will be missed by many who enjoy his musical talents and aviation stories. He was known to be able to play any music thrown at him. The best sight reader of music. Also did not need music to play classical, jazz, patriotic show and standard tunes. 

He was a member of the “Toast Masters” and always enjoyed talking in front of an audience as well as performing. 

Italian singer–songwriter. When Domenico Modugno came to the US to perform his hit “Volare” released in 1958, Roger was selected to be his accompaniment in Manhattan. 

Roger Lander is a native New Yorker who was born and raised in Queens, spent his bachelor years in his 20‘s in Manhattan, married and moved to Stamford, CT., in his 30‘s. 

He graduated from Bayside High School and Hofstra University on Long Island majoring in economics. 

Roger first started on the accordion at the age of seven, and learned to play the piano in high school, performing with a 5–piece combo at many high school dances His big break, musically speaking, was playing the piano at various resorts in the Catskill Mountains during the summers of his college years. Roger performed with a 4–piece band playing 6 nights a week. This involved playing music for dancing 6 nights a week, including the sight–reading of three shows each week. As you can imagine, this was a challenging and musical growth experience. 

During the college year, Roger was an active part–time music instructor for piano and accordion and played music on weekends at dances, weddings and bar mitzvahs. 

After college, Roger secured his first “Real job” as a computer programmer for Bankers Trust Company. He also developed an interest in private aviation, and purchased his first airplane at the age of 22. He continued to pursue music on the weekends to cover the airplane payments. While in New York, he met and married his wife of 48 years “DJ“, who worked at the Benton & Bowles Advertising Agency in Manhattan. DJ was also a singer in New York. They met when they performed together at a Christmas party for a New City law firm. “An Evening of Burt Bacharach“. Roger‘s information system job progressed, and in 1982, he was promoted to the position of Corporate Director of Information Technology for AMF, a worldwide producer of leisure time products. At this time, AMF owned 30 well–known leisure time companies such as AMF Bowling, Hatteras Yachts, Ben Hogan Golf Equipment, Harley Davidson Motorcycles, Head Ski, Voit Basketballs and other major name brands. 

At this time, Roger was still very active and he moved up to his 4th airplane, a beautiful twin engine turbo charged aircraft capable of flying 1000 miles nonstop at 200 miles per hour. In mis spare time, he became a flight instructor for multi engine airplanes and instrument flying at Westchester county Airport in White Plains New York. Music and playing the piano was relegated to be a serious hobby at this time. 

While in Stamford CT., Roger and DJ were blessed with a lovely Daughter Meredith. 

As good things sometimes end, in 1986 AMF was acquired by a “Corporate Raider” and Roger‘s 15 year career with AMF came to an abrupt end along with 400 other employees at Corporate Headquarters in New York. 

Roger again landed on his feet in 1986 by joining American Savings in Miami as the Senior Vice President in charge of the Corporate Computer and Telecommunications functions. At this time, Roger, DJ and Meredith (who was now 9 years old) relocated to Weston becoming the 5th residents of Weston‘s Windmill Ranges Estates. Their famous neighbor, Dan Marino, moved in a few months later just 4 houses away. 

Just 5 years later in 1991, the “Corporate World” delivered another “surprise” when the savings and loan industry was legislated out of existence. This time Roger decided that after 25 years of working for the “Corporations“, it was time to make a career change. Roger went into business for himself and became a Realtor in Weston in 1991. This was when there were only 200 realtors in Weston as compared to 2000 today. To assist in the transition from the “Corporate World” to Real Estate, he began giving piano lessons to new residents in Weston, who needed his services as the relocated to Arvidas “Hometown of the Future” in Weston. 

Roger was a consistent top producer with Re/Max Hometown in Weston, averaging 30–40 transactions each year. He was on the Board of Directors of the Weston Philharmonic Society, was active with the Rotary Club of Weston, and still managed to give a few piano lessons to all ages. Roger played weekly at Senior Center and took their requests. Roger has played piano at numerous churches. He was currently a pianist at Living Faith Lutheran Church in Pembroke Pines, Florida. 

Roger has played the piano at the Weston Cleveland Clinic for many years to bring comfort and musical diversion to those in need of music to distract them from their cares. 

Roger has been an active member of the elite Aviation Club known as the “QB‘S” Quiet Birdmen. 

Their Daughter Meredith passed way two years ago. He is survived by his wife Donna “DJ” still working at Enterprise Title, Inc. with attorney Skip Straus for the past 23 years.

Donations may be made in his name to the Weston Philharmonic Society for Music Scholarship Program.

Arrangements entrusted to: Boyd-Panciera, University Drive Chapel.