Roger William Pine III  10/10/1947 – 1/17/2022

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

I Corinthians 13:4-5, NIV

On January 17, 2022, Roger succumbed to his 5+ year battle with pancreatic cancer.  During his battle, he continued to show his usual amazing faith and love.  Roger loved all and he was loved by all.  The above scripture perfectly describes him when his name is substituted for the word "love."

Music and teaching were Roger's life.  He began playing the violin in early elementary school, and he continued to play it and the viola until his last days when he lost the strength to hold the instruments.  He was the concertmaster of both his junior high school and his high school orchestras.  He majored in music and began teaching music in the Poway elementary school system in 1969 after he graduated from San Diego State University.  When the school system discontinued the separate music program, Roger used the teaching credential he earned to begin teaching 6 ^th grade.  He did this for approximately 30 years, and he used to joke that it must be getting close to retirement time when his students would reveal that he also taught their parents.  He was a wonderful loving teacher, and he was recognized with an outstanding teacher award for the Poway/San Diego region.

Perhaps Roger's greatest enjoyment was playing his viola and his violin in the Poway and Palomar Symphony Orchestras, the Poway Symphonette, and in various string quartettes.  He loved the rehearsals as much as the performances.  And he loved his fellow performers.  He was very touched by the special honor he received by the Orchestra and the Poway Symphony Board last year.

Roger also enjoyed following sports, especially the Olympics and track and field events.  He was a track star in both junior high school and high school long distance events.  In high school he ran the mile event, and it was not unusual to see him move from last place to first place during the final lap.  His race finishes were always dramatic and inspiring.  What great stamina and perseverance he demonstrated.

Traveling the country with Ann, his wife of over 52 years, to see family and friends was something Roger loved doing.  These travels took them to places such as Oregon, Arizona, Alabama, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and even Alaska and Jamaica.  Everyone loved to have these visits as Roger always had such interesting and funny stories to tell.

Roger may have had a smaller frame and stature, but his heart was extra-large.  His whole life was a demonstration of faith and love.  He naturally lived by the golden rule.  He was a kind and loving person.  And that is how he would want to be remembered.