Roger Bliss Thurber

NEW SALEM - Roger Bliss Thurber, 74, of 493 Daniel Shays Highway, New Salem, died peacefully at home on Monday, April 11, 2016. Born in Boston on July 24, 1941, he was the son of the late Roger B. and the late Linda Eynon Thurber. Roger grew up in Wellesley, MA. He graduated from Hebron Academy in Hebron, Maine and received his BA from New York Regents College. A veteran of the Vietnam War, he served in U.S. Army Intelligence in Asia and Europe for 22 years. He was an expert marksman and highly decorated, receiving the Legion of Merit for his Army service upon retirement. Roger was a member of the Athol-Orange Pool League, serving as team captain. A member of St. John's Episcopal Church, he served as Junior Warden. Roger was interested in the history of his town. He was a member of the New Salem Historical Commission and the Friends of Historic New Salem. Roger enjoyed spending time with his family. He was an avid sailor from childhood, sailing with his parents along the New England Coast. Later with his own family he sailed on the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coast. On vacation, the family sailed off the coast of Northern New Zealand. In later years, he was a renowned family chef; taking pride in hosting his family and friends for meals at his New Salem home. He leaves his wife of 32 years, Catherine W. Tyng, his sister, Susan Cloutier of New Salem, MA, and five children: Carolyn Wallace of Crownsville, MD; Susan Thurber of Page, AZ; Christopher McCalmont of Houston, TX; Mary Thurber of New Salem, MA; Anne Thurber of Madison, WI. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Timothy Shields, Emily Wallace, Jessica Shields, Andrew Wallace, Sarah Shields, Zachary Shields and Corbin McCalmont. A Memorial service will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Sunday April 17 at 4:00 PM. Burial with full military honors will be in the summer at Arlington National Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in his memory to St. John's Episcopal Church, 15 Park Avenue, Athol, MA 01331.