Obituary of Roger Gilbert Jr.

Roger Gilbert Jr passed away peacefully in the company of his beloved wife Marion (Marty) Moore Gilbert on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at their residence in Darien, Connecticut. Roger is remembered for his zest for life and adventure, entrepreneurial spirit, playful sense of humor and deep devotion to his wife Marty. Born on November 21, 1933 in New York City, his parents were Roger Gilbert and Louise Waring Gilbert, and after Louise died, Catherine (Cathy) Gilbert. Roger graduated from Princeton University in 1955 with a BSE in Chemical Engineering and served in the United States Air Force 1956-58. Roger founded Oriel Corporation in 1967 which developed, manufactured and sold optical and spectroscopic scientific instruments. He served as President of Oriel Corporation until he sold the Company in 1987. Roger's greatest love was Marty, his wife of 64 years. After 7 years of serving as a presenting team couple for Marriage Encounter, Roger and Marty co-founded and led The Engaged Workshop starting in 1983, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing enrichment workshops for engaged and married couples. Roger also found great joy in dressing and acting as a volunteer clown with the Ha Ha Club at the Stamford Hospital and volunteering with the Network program at Episcopal Social Services in New York City serving people coming home from prison. In his free time, Roger along with Marty, enjoyed sailing, country and ballroom dancing, local road trips and international travel along with being an active member of St. Luke’s Parish in Darien. Roger Gilbert, Jr is survived by his wife Marty, four children: Jeffrey Z. Gilbert (Heather Bradford), Louisa Gilbert (Anil Singh), Jane Gilbert (Douglas Heller) and Katrina Gilbert Millard (Peter); and nine grandchildren: Aidan, Greta and Tucker Gilbert, Ana and Tanya Singh (Jeffrey Wilke), Lauren and Myles Heller, and Hazel and Pedro Millard. If you wish to show your support, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Roger's memory to <a href="https://give.p2phelps.org" target="_blank">Person to Person</a>.