Obituary: Roger Paul Gilson Jr., 71, Of Ridgefield

Information and Photo Courtesy Jowdy-Kane Funeral Home

RIDGEFIELD, CT — With deep sadness, his family mourns the passing of an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, brother, uncle, great uncle, and nephew, Roger Paul Gilson, Jr. on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, at the home, of early-onset Alzheimer’s.

A 36-year resident of Ridgefield, Roger was born on July 15, 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio to Roger Paul Gilson, Sr. and Janet Quinlan Gilson. Roger spent his childhood and young adult years in Syracuse, NY. He was a kind and giving person who excelled at everything he did. He cared about others, starting at a young age when he organized a carnival for Muscular Dystrophy in his Strathmore neighborhood. In high school, he organized the Young World Development Committee, which focused on supporting Americans who struggled with hunger. He held a fast on the Syracuse University campus, and then organized numerous hunger marches throughout the city of Syracuse in support of Bobby Sands and other Irish political prisoners. He received multiple recognitions from the PEACE organization. Along with his compassion for others, he excelled in academics, sports, and music, playing the clarinet and singing in the church choir. Roger was an inspiration and guide to his three younger brothers and his sister, leading them by example on the pathway to their own successes in life.

Roger graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in philosophy and had many cherished years as a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He then received a master’s in public administration from the Maxwell School and graduated cum laude from the Syracuse College of Law and served as the comments editor of the Syracuse Law Review.

For the next forty years, Roger practiced labor and employment law with particular emphasis on traditional labor law for health care employers at Jackson, Lewis where he rose to become a partner. He had extensive experience representing employers in labor cases before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), State Labor Boards and federal and state courts. He has been involved in negotiating more than 100 collective bargaining agreements across the United States and was a recognized authority with respect to the handling and preempting strikes, picketing and corporate campaigns.

Roger was a true Renaissance man. He spoke French, German and Russian. He loved scuba diving, exploring wrecks in Bermuda and Mexico. He sang with multiple choirs, sometimes two in one weekend. He was a gardener, a beekeeper, a painter and a doting caretaker to his two beloved dogs, Whiney and Callie.

He was a devoted husband to his wife of 41 years, Anne. Roger is survived by his children, Roger; his daughter and her husband, Liz and Ido, and their son, Ari; and his youngest son and his wife, Luke and Anabel. He is survived by his siblings, Matthew (Valeria), Kathleen (Marty), Timothy (Missy) and their families, his great aunts, Patti, Emily, Mary, Barbara, Paula and their families. He was predeceased by his brother Steven.

A special thanks to his wonderful caregivers Gianina Lopes and Cat Spove, who were with him until the end, and all his friends at Ridgefield StretchLab and Founders Hall.

A celebration of life will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at St. Stephen's Church, 353 Main Street in Ridgefield, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Founders Hall.