Roger Eugene Thiele

Thiele, Roger Eugene;  went to be with the “Spirit in the Sky” on July 15, 2021, after an admirable fight with chronic illness.  Born January 22, 1953, in Brooklyn, NY to Eleanor and Eugene Thiele, Roger grew up in Babylon, NY and was a lifelong resident of Long Island, NY.

He relocated to Mechanicsville, VA in 2017 where he lived with his daughter, Allison Drago, son-in-law Gaetano, and grandchildren Jackie and Dominic.  He loved being with his family, who are so incredibly grateful for the quality time spent together in recent years.  He will also be missed by his niece and nephew, Amber Watson, and Allen Newcomb; O’Reilly and Hohmuth cousins; and friend of over 60 years, Michael Lyons.  He greatly missed his buddy, Bobby Pacelli, and looked forward to tearing it up again together in Heaven.

Roger’s livelihoods revolved around all things with an engine.  He grew up working on the fishing boats at Captree, eventually becoming a boat captain.  He was co-owner of Doug’s Automotive in Oakdale, NY for almost 20 years.  He drove coach buses for over 15 years and finished his career as an over-the-road trucker.  In between, he delivered bushels of clams and pallets of Pepperidge Farm breads and cookies.  He was at his happiest on the road or the water.  He was an exceedingly hard worker who joked that he hadn’t yet decided what he wanted to be when he grew up.

Roger loved classic rock music, having seen his first concert, Fleetwood Mac, at age 17 at Plattsburgh College.  His annual tradition was an Allman Brothers Band concert with his best friend.  He enjoyed classic cars, his favorite being his ‘69 Dodge Charger.  He also loved fishing, watching Jeopardy & old episodes of Columbo, and playing Words with Friends.  He was an excellent jokester, who never missed an opportunity for a fun April Fool’s Day gag.  A sweet tooth, he wouldn’t turn down an ice cream date, and had an affinity for classic candy.  Roger’s legacy will be that he was the most generous, selfless man who always put the needs of others in front of his own.

Services will be private, with a celebration of life to be determined at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Roger’s honor to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital - two organizations that were very close to his heart.

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