July 10, 2011 Roger Horton died while under going treatment for cancer in Seattle. Roger lived in Olympia since 1978, with the exception of a couple years in Seattle. He grew up east of the mountains, in the tri cities. He first came to Olympia to go to Evergreen when the college was starting. Four years after graduating he came back here for the sailing.

Roger owned a Baskin and Robins franchise in Portland. He sold it and bought a boat, a Tanzer 22, Injoy, which he had trucked to Olympia. He arrived in town a week before the boat did. Roger joined SSSS his first year in town and has been a Member off and on since. He raced Injoy with SSSS into early ’80s. That included the1979 Toliva Shoal Race, where Injoy gets a mention in The Beauty of Sailing with the photo at the right. He cruised her some on the Sound and to the San Juans.

He sold her to finish building his passive solar house. Roger did not race much for a year or two while building it. After finishing it, as finished as he wanted it, he raced on other people’s boats. Some were local boats, including my Merit 22. He raced many of the major down Sound races with Marty Blanchard on the first Merit 25 on the Sound. When Sugar Magnolia came to town in the mid 1980s Roger was regular crew. He raced with us into the ’90s.

After he quit racing Roger bought a Marples designed tri, Zorba. He cruised her, mostly in the south Sound. That included often attending SSSS Cruises.

You might have met Roger off the water. He was last working with the State, in Personal. While in Olympia he also ran a restaurant, worked for the Legislature, and was a licensed real estate appraiser. He ran for the State Legislature one year.

I met Roger once before he came to town. He was asking how to learn to sail. I suggested he start with a small boat, like a Laser or Sunfish. Which he did while in Portland. Next time I saw him he had just moved to town and was expecting a truck with his new boat, Injoy. I have known him since, sailing with him on his boats and on mine. He was a good friend and will be missed, by me and most who knew him.

Steve Worcester

Date: September 10, 2011
Time: 12:00 noon
Location: Carlyon Beach Club House, 2719 Island Dr. NW, Olympia, WA 98502

Please plan on staying for lunch following the service. There will be a memory board. If you have a favorite picture of Roger, please share it with the rest of his friends. You may take it with you after the service.

There is a marina at the beach club with limited small boat moorage. If you wish to arrive by boat, please let me know in so I may make arrangements.

James Horton, hortonjd@msn.com.