SACO - Roger R. Johnson passed away peacefully at home with his family on July 9, 2024.  He was born at Webber Hospital in 1938 to Walter Chester Johnson and Muriel Provencher.  He attended Biddeford Catholic Schools and graduated from St. Louis High School.  After high school he joined the Air Force and served his 4 years as a radar technician in remote locations throughout the United States.  He was always fond of telling people he was stationed in Alaska and was able to celebrate with the locals when it was granted Statehood.  After his military service he got his Bachelor's Degree in Economics from St. Francis College (now University of New England) and later attended the University of NH in pursuit of a master's degree.

Upon graduation he served one year as the Federal Program Coordinator for the Biddeford Youth Corp. and then one year as Administrative Assistany to the Biddeford Superintendent of Schools.  He then served as Biddeford's Economic Development Director from 1970 to 1984 when the City's single industrial park with one tenant grew to three parks and 21 tenants, diversifying the City's manufacturing base.  During this same period (1975-1977) he and his wife, owned and operated the Sleepy Hollow Motor Court in Kennebunk.  In 1985 he became Saco's Economic Development Director where he created the State's first Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District and filled all but one of the City's industrial park lots.  He later became Scarborough's Economic Development Director where he organized two more TIF Districts, doubled the Town's industrial park and attracted several large businesses.  In 1988 he went back to Saco as the manager of developer Gavin Ruotolo's ambitious $50 million dollar Saco Island development, with which he was closely involved with when he served as Saco's Economic Development Director.  In 1989, recognizing that the Saco Island project was financially troubled, he resigned and formed R.R. Johnson Associates providing business development consultation.  From 1992-1996 he served as Executive Director of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce where he was involved with the creation of the Biddeford-Saco Area Economic Development Corp., the establishment of the Biddeford-Saco Small Business Center and the location of the York County Technical Collage in Wells.  In 1997 he and his wife purchased and operated the Blue Point Motel & Cottages on Route 1 in Scarborough.  In 2003 he sold the motel and retired.  Feeling restless, he sought out and found a part-time production assistant job with Len Libby Candies in Scarborough where he happily worked until 2009.

After his military service he met and married Barbara Gilstorf until they later went their separate ways.  Together they had a beautiful daughter named Kimberly Maria.  In 1981 he married Suzanne Langevin, and together they had a wonderful son named Kenneth Roger.  He loved his children and grandchildren dearly and enjoyed coaching and attending all of their sporting and academic events.

Roger was a tremendous table tennis player who belonged to the Saco Table Tennis Club.  They met and played once a week for 3 hours.  He was renowned for being able to switch hands in the middle of play and successfully return the serve.  He played competitively for years and traveled throughout the New England area to attend matches.  He won several state championships including the Maine Senior Games in his 60s.  He was also an avid fan of the Red Sox and Patriots, and attended many of the games, even if that meant traveling out of state to see away games which took him to several notable ballparks throughout the United States and Toronto Canada.  He and Suzanne spent many years traveling around the United States and overseas, including several land tours to France and Italy as well as several Caribbean and Mediterranean Cruises.

Roger was predeceased by his beloved daughter Kimberly Maria.  He is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Suzanne, his son Kenneth Roger and his partner Sarah Scott, and their two daughters, Mila and Cora; his son-in-law Frank Barnicle and he and Kim's two sons, Jacob and Patrick.

Arrangements are in the care of Cote's Funeral Home, 87 James Street, Saco, ME.  Visiting hours will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.  Thereafter there will be a private burial for the family members at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco.  To share a memory or leave a message of condolence please visit www.cotefuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Southern Maine and/or any food bank/pantry of your choice.