Roger Leon Cherry
Roger Cherry Obituary
Remembering Roger Leon Cherry
Roger Cherry was born on November 9,1941 in Duluth, Minnesota to Arthur and Alice Cherry; he joined an older brother, Arthur. The family left the cold winters and mosquito summers when they drove to Portland, The City of Roses. Arthur Sr. found apartment housing in VanPort, a small city developed for returning veterans. The family escaped in a rented milk truck as the historical flood of 1948 displaced thousands of residents. Roger’s father piled his sons, wife and a few neighbor kids, as well as their newly purchased refrigerator, into the vehicle. The family settled in Oak Grove, Oregon.
In 1960, Roger graduated from Milwaukie High School where he participated in sports, excelling in wrestling. Soon, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. Completing basic training, and parachute school, he was assigned to Fort Campbell. He volunteered for Special Forces training at Fort Bragg and began living out the Special Forces motto: De Oppresso Liber, Latin meaning To Free the Oppressed. In 1963, he was transferred to the 1st Special Forces Group on Okinawa. He was deployed to Thailand in support of activity in Laos. Roger attended Thai language school and HALO training; he was later deployed to Vietnam where he safely completed dangerous jumps into enemy territory. He was discharged in 1965, then reenlisted in 1972 in the 12th Special Forces Group. His final discharge came in 1983.
The GI Bill financed his education at Portland State College where he graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree with emphasis on SE Asian archaeology. As a student, he earned a research grant in anthropology at the Ateneo de Manila in Quezon City, Philippines. He spent a summer with the U.S. Coast Geodesic Survey on the USCGS Fairweather in Glacier Bay, Alaska. In 1970, he began graduate studies in anthropology at the University of Wisconsin. He returned to Oregon as an instructor at Portland Community College. In 1980, he graduated from Reed College with a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts.
While at Portland State College, Roger met his future wife, Ilona Zakovics. He proposed a few times: once in the Fred Meyer parking lot with a plastic ring from a gumball machine. Ilona wisely declined. Another proposal happened when Roger tended to business in the City of Stevenson, Washington. “Well, we are in city hall, so, shall we?” Ilona claimed her mother would disown her, if she forfeited a proper wedding. Ilona gently refused his suggestion.
Eventually, Roger and Ilona eloped to Canada in 1971. Roger, after working in Alaska, flew to Seattle. Ilona drove to Seattle in her future mother-in-law’s hot car, a Pontiac Firebird, to meet Roger. They ventured to Vancouver together – and were married. Returning to Portland, they hosted an all-night celebration with family and friends – and a happy mother of the bride.
Together they created a wonderful life: Roger started his own business where he could be autonomous and implement his creative ideas. In 1975, their beautiful daughter was born. She was named “Tija Alicia” – a blend of her Latvian heritage and honoring her grandmother, Alice. Five years later came smiling son, “Alexander Gian” – Alexander, a name of ancestors and Gian recognizing his Italian heritage. Roger and Ilona remained committed to their children’s interests and education: paying tuition for their Catholic education and volunteering, serving donuts after Mass. Roger enjoyed all of Alex’s Boy Scout activities, leading to Alex’s achievement of an Eagle Scout badge. Roger and Ilona spent weekends cheering as Tija and Alex played sports. Away from school, the family escaped to their favorite place: The Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia.
Throughout his life, Roger remained committed to their family, and friends. The family traveled to Italy to celebrate their Italian cousins’ weddings. Roger cherished Ilona’s Latvian heritage, honoring her family’s struggle to seek freedom in the US. They traveled to Latvia to visit Ilona’s family.
Roger stayed near as his parents aged and needed him. When his brother was housebound, he faithfully sat at his bedside. When Roger’s health challenged him, he continued his scheduled coffee meet-ups: a gathering of men’s wisdom, wisecracks – and staunch opinions.
Roger’s care for his loved ones was unwavering and selfless. He loved Ilona unconditionally, keeping her safe and comforted. And in Roger’s last months, she kept him safe and brought comfort. “We were best friends, he was the core of my life,” she says.
Now, without limitations or pain, Roger is free from oppression – and finally home.
A Funeral Mass will be overseen by Our Lady of the Lake Parish and will be held at Christ Church Episcopal Parish, 1060 Chandler Road, in Lake Oswego,OR, on Friday, May 22, 2026, at 11AM.
Roger will be laid to rest in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Lake Oswego, OR.
To honor Roger’s memory and in lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to:
P.O. Box 25138
New York, NY 10087-5138
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