Roger Nace

Roger A Nace was born on June 21st 1943 in Tacoma, WA and passed away unexpectedly from complications following heart surgery on April 24th 2013 in Mesa, AZ. He was the only child of Dr. Fay and Marjorie Nace who preceded him in death. Also preceding him are ‘son’ and daughter in law, Stephen and Sara Sherwood. Roger leaves behind his loving wife, partner, companion, “cheer leader”, best friend and soul mate of more than 27 years, Kathleen; son Patrick and daughter Michelle; son in law, Jeff, daughter in law, Allyison; grandchildren: Kristina, Steven, Samantha, Amanda, Damian, Cody, Alex, Kylie, Robert, Jordan, Joey, Ripley and Kailyn; great-grandchildren: Ember, Elena and Avery; brother in law Stephen Taylor, wife Valerie and family; mother in law Lelia Taylor. Roger was born and raised in the great Northwest where he and his dad studied together to get their amateur radio licenses. They received their novice licenses in 1957 and soon upgraded, Roger garnering call sign K7AYC and his dad, K7AYD. He was an active member of the Radio Club of Tacoma (W7DK) anytime he lived in the Northwest. In the mid 1990s he changed his call to K8RN to reflect his initials. Roger was part of the first complete graduating class (1961) of the then new Wilson High School in Tacoma, WA. He attended the University of Puget Sound and then went on to graduate from the University of Washington. After graduation he stayed on as a research assistant in the Medical School doing studies in anesthesia application and action. As a part of his job he wrote a grant to purchase a computer to help compile the data collected from the studies. And thus began the love relationship with computers and computing. Roger left the research field and joined Digital Equipment Corporation in 1973 as a software specialist and later as a software consultant, working in Seattle, Denver, Merrimac, NH, and Bellevue, WA. In 1993 he became one of the principals of Excell Data Corporation in Seattle and later Bellevue. On his retirement in 1997, Roger and Kathleen purchased a class A motor home to continue with their love of travel and pleasure in the sun of AZ during the winter months, where they spent many happy busy years at Valle del Oro RV Resort in Mesa. They had just completed 16 years of living full time in the motor home, travelling across the country several times visiting family and friends, stopping to enjoy many interesting places along the way. A favorite spot had become Moab, UT for slick rock jeeping, where he and his trusty Wrangler accomplished some pretty awesome trails. They both enjoyed the beauty and majesty of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Roger loved to travel both nationally and internationally. He loved to fly his plane, climb, ski, scuba dive, play Texas hold ’em, go to the movies, play on-line computer games, take jeep trips in the desert, fly kites, teach others, read on the beach, watch the surf and storms. His humor would sparkle in his writing and storytelling and the occasional quick comment. Roger was our favorite techie-nerd and, each year, attended CES in Las Vegas, as he loved to keep up with new technology. He was part of the Radio Club of Tacoma, the Tacoma Astronomical Society, the Family Motor Coach Association, the M & F Jeepers, the Valle del Oro Photography Club and had recently found a church home with Kathleen at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Phoenix. Roger loved music, photography, art, reading, ham radio, computers, good food and wine, the night sky, friends and family. He was happiest being with family that he loved so much. Roger and his gentle spirit will be greatly missed by family and friends. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 2310 N 56th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008. A celebration of Roger’s life will be held this summer in the Northwest. A memorial service will be held in the fall in AZ.

Roger Nace

June 21, 1943 - April 24, 2013