On Saturday, August 7, 2021, Roger William Wey, loving father and friend, passed away at the age of 80.
Roger was born on March 26, 1941, in Boston to George and Jean Wey. He graduated from Winthrop High School, and attended Wentworth Institute of Technology.
Roger had a passion for travel and adventure. After leaving college, he worked on the MS Minnesota, a Swedish freighter, and traveled extensively around the Baltic Sea. After leaving the ship, he traveled throughout Europe by hitchhiking through Yugoslavia, Hungary, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, and Greece. When he returned to the States, he worked at the West Dover Inn in Vermont, and skied most of that winter.
Roger moved back to Boston and joined the local carpenters’ Union No. 33, where he worked as carpenter foreman on a number of high-rise buildings in downtown Boston. Shortly afterward, he was married to Marilyn Lohnes. After spending several years in Boston, he moved his family outside the city to Bridgewater. He continued to commute into the city for work until the summer of 1975, when he decided to move his family to Martha’s Vineyard, where he had built a house on East Chop. He started his own construction company, Wey Construction, during a tough business cycle. He was able to persevere during this time, and built many houses on the Vineyard.
Roger had an extensive career in public service. He served as a selectman in Oak Bluffs for 21 years. He also served on the Oak Bluffs board of appeals, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, as a Dukes County commissioner, the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging, and the Dukes County Retirement Board.
Roger had a passion for running and exercise. He would regularly bike from East Chop to South Beach for a swim during the fall months. In the late 1990s, he participated in the Cycle for the Cause, a bicycle race from Boston to New York to raise awareness and to support efforts toward ending HIV and AIDS. He also helped organize many Oak Bluffs road races, including the Columbus Day, Memorial Day, NAACP, and the Thanksgiving Day road races. He loved participating and racing his friends and family to the finish line.
Roger continued his adventures in his later years. He traveled to Africa and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He learned to surf in Costa Rica. In recent years, he took several road trips around the U.S., visiting national parks and many small towns across America. He enjoyed reading and learning throughout his life, valuing education and hard work. He will be remembered for his love for his family, his perseverance, and his integrity.
He is predeceased by his parents, George and Jean Wey; by his son, Timothy Wey; and his faithful dog Dewey, who passed away a few short months ago. He is survived by his brother, George Wey; his children, Eric Wey (Karen) of Sugarland, Texas, Chris Wey (Debbie) of Tega Cay, S.C., Jennifer Fiore (Kyle) of Oak Bluffs, Rachel Stimits (Jason) of Merritt Island, Fla., Heather Boyle (Jaime) of Oak Bluffs, and Rebecca Bizzaro (Tom) of Northport, N.Y. He was also the proud grandfather of 14 grandchildren, Jessica, Ryan, Grace, Evan, Caroline, Cal, Nick, Ella, Ethan, Emma, Tyler, Savanna, Lilly, and Danny.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 15, from 5 to 7 pm at Chapman Funeral and Cremations, Edgartown Road in Oak Bluffs. A funeral service will be held on Monday, August 16, at 10 am in the Oak Bluffs Tabernacle in the Campgrounds, and burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Oak Bluffs.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 1748, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, or to the United Methodist Church of Martha’s Vineyard, P.O. Box 2580, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557. Visit chapmanfuneral.com for online tributes and information.
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