Roger S. Monroe

Roger Stanley Monroe, age 87, died of natural causes on Sunday, May 8, 2016 at the Fallbrook Woods Retirement Home in Portland, Maine. He spent his last hours surrounded by family and friends. Roger was born in Dover, Massachusetts in 1928 where he lived until attending Harvard University, class of 1949. An avid lover of languages, Roger left for Europe soon after graduating from Harvard to study French in Paris at the Sorbonne and the College of France followed by studies in Strasbourg, France. Over the years Roger continued his study of languages eventually becoming proficient in 10 including French, Spanish, Italian, German, Greek, Persian and Arabic. In the 50s Roger first visited the Middle East. This visit to Egypt began what became a lifelong love of the Arabic language, the Middle East and its people. He spent over 50 years living, working and traveling in that area of the world earning his M.A. in Arabic Literature from the American University in Cairo. He also did PHD work in Arabic Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. Roger made many devoted friends all over the world with his warm personality, charm and wit. He loved word play and always delighted in a clever turn of phrase. Bringing this personality to the classroom also earned him many devoted students to whom he taught Arabic and English. Roger is survived by many nieces and nephews including Larry Jackson and Steve Floyd, Cindy and Wayne Sellin, Linda Caruso, Steve Jackson, Barbara Galiano, Dan Jackson, Deborah Silver and Pamela Carmichael as well as many other nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. Roger loved his family very dearly and also leaves behind many cousins including Lois Harper and Judy Harper. He also leaves many dear friends in France and Egypt includingBarbro Ek, Angela Jacques and Eva Linfield. Visiting Hours for RogersPortland friends and familywill be held at theConroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland on Friday, May 20, 2016 from 4-7PM. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, May 27, 2016 at11:30AM at The Dover Church, 17 Springdale Ave., Dover, MA. There will be a reception at the church following the service. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dover Library, 56 Dedham St., Dover, MA 02030, where Rogers mother, Grace Thompson Monroe, was librarian or The Frannie Peabody Center, 30 Danforth St., #311, Portland, ME 04101.