Roger Vallance Tabor

Pembroke - Surrounded by family and loved ones, Roger Vallance Tabor, 76 years old, of Pembroke, Maine and Orient, New York passed away peacefully at his home in Pembroke on Monday, January 21, 2008. Every man must die; but few men live. Roger lived. Roger maintained a balance. He worked hard, but always found time to play. He enjoyed time on the water, but always respected the power of the sea. He took important things seriously, but was also the first to laugh. He was never reckless, but enjoyed the excitement of taking a risk. They say variety is the spice of life. Roger had plenty of that. Coming from a long line of well respected Long Island farmers, Roger farmed from a very young age. Upon graduation from Greenport High School in 1948, he attended Cornell University, graduating in 1950. Roger's careers ran the gamut from lobsterman to firefighter, from owning and operating a successful excavation business to holding several positions with the USDA. These included engineering equipment operator, automotive mechanic, tractor operator, crane operator and structural firefighter. He was a stock car driver, an athlete, skier, hunter, fisherman and biker. A staunch patriot, he served his country in the United States Air Force from 1954 until 1958. He continued serving in the Air Force Reserves until he was honorably discharged in 1962. He was a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Quoddy Bay Flotilla in Eastport for more than ten years and in 2003 became a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security. He had a keen appreciation for nature. He took his children and grandchildren on nature walks, teaching them about wildlife and how to identify various animal tracks. He went hunting, but lived by the rule of "anything you shoot, you eat." He involved himself in ecology and conservation efforts aimed at protecting us from ourselves and mankind's tendency to enjoy a good thing too much. Roger knew how to live a full life. He made friends wherever he went. They were real friends, the kind you always keep in touch with. An asset to his community, Roger set an example for us to strive toward. Beginning in 1951, he served for 56 years in the Orient Fire Department. He was the Chief of this volunteer organization in New York from 1968 until 1970 and was appointed Commissioner of the Orient Fire District in 1977 and served in that capacity until 1991. He was a member of the North Fork Volunteer Firemen's Association from 1952 until 2007. He was an active member and served as President of the Oysterponds Rod and Gun Club in New York. During that time he was responsible for designing their current oyster shell logo. Roger was a Counselor for the Lewis A. Edwards Council #87 Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He was an active member of his church both in New York and in Maine. He served as a Trustee of the Orient Congregational Church and in Maine he hammered and fundraised to help build the new Parish hall at the Dennysville-Edmunds Congregational Church. Roger's children recall the many important lessons he taught them. He emphasized taking pride in what you do. He often said, "If you?re going to do something, do it right or don?t do it at all." As hard as he worked, he often reminded us all, "Take time to smell the roses." A true gentleman, he held the door open for ladies. As a husband, he was not only loving, but a best friend. He and his wife, Ginny, worked together, relaxed together, enjoyed time together with friends and family in Nova Scotia, Maine, North Carolina, Florida and New York. They traveled to Newfoundland, Missouri and even chaperoned grandchildren, Brittany and Christopher, on a class trip to France and Spain in 2003. Whether you speak to family or friends, if you mention Roger Tabor, one of the first things commented upon is his ability to walk into a room and get everyone laughing. We're not talking about just any kind of laughter. We're talking about the uncontrollable type where you're gasping for air, clutching your stomach and ribs in pain and still laughing with no relief in sight. Roger would begin laughing and his laugh was so contagious that he'd have people doubled over and fighting for air. Sometimes they didn?t even know what they were laughing about. No doubt Roger had a place saved for him in heaven, but if you want to find him, just listen for laughter. That's where he dwells now...in the laughter of a small child squealing with delight from a puppy's frenzied kisses or in your belly laughs when your best friend makes you laugh till it hurts. Roger is survived by his loving wife of 17 years, Ginny; his sister, Marjorie Williams of New York and Florida; his ex-wife, Lynda Tabor of Orient, New York; his daughter, Rachel Tabor Flatley of Lake Worth, Florida; his son, Roger M. Tabor and daughter-in-law, Andrea Tabor of Orient, New York; as well as his stepdaughters Kimberly Tabor or East Moriches and Lisa Finne of Southold, New York. His surviving grandchildren include Keegan Flatley of Lake Worth, Florida; Madison and Aimen Tabor of Orient, New York; Christopher and Dylan Tabor-Finne of Southold, New York; and Brittany and Cortney Tabor of East Moriches, New York. You are invited to a celebration of Roger's life on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at Dennysville-Edmunds Congregational Church in Dennysville, Maine. A future service is also planned for family and friends in Orient, New York. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Dennys River Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Service, Dennysville-Edmunds Congregational Church, Orient Fire Department or Orient Congregational Church. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home, Calais & Eastport.


Services:
2:00PM at Dennysville-Edmunds Congregational Church on Saturday, January 26th, 2008 (map/driving directions)