1940 - 2021
No Vistitation Date Scheduled
No Funeral Date Scheduled
Roger Warren Wilde, 81, of Chelmsford passed away Thursday, December 30, 2021, having lived a full and loving life.
He entered this world on January 21, 1940, the son of the late Raymond and Elizabeth (White) Wilde. He graduated from Lowell High School as a part of the class of 1959.
Roger retired after a “52 years of a life sentence” as an Expeditor at Raytheon Technology Company in 2011. His mischievous antics were well known by all; “I don’t need any stinkin’ badges!” when prompted to show his ID, and telling new hires that they could pick up their free turkey or “honey of a ham” coupon from the guard shack for various holidays.
He enjoyed music, boating, fishing, dancing, Film Noir, and was a big WWII buff, as well as a devout Yankees Fan (go Yankees!). He was an active member of the Tyngsboro Sportsman’s’ Club and a lifelong member of The Chelmsford Elks. He also enjoyed spending his summers in Vermont entertaining his family and friends.
He was married to the late Marie P. (Hayes) for more than 33 years and was the father of the late Stephen Wilde and the late Kelly Putnicki. He was also predeceased by his twin, Gerald, and a brother, Donald.
Roger is survived by a son, Raymond Wilde of Dracut; daughters, Elizabeth Nason and her husband Jeffrey of Chelmsford, Tracy Charbonneau and her husband Mark of Russell, PA, a sister, Janet Guild of FL; sister-in-law, Marjorie Wilde of Md, a sister in law, Barbara Wilde of Lowell, Mass, his grandchildren Jennifer Challies and her husband Brandon, Jared Charbonneau, Rachel Nason, Danielle Charbonneau, and Jeffrey Nason Jr. and a great granddaughter, Adelaide Challies. He is also survived by a niece, Julie Stalker-Wilde and a nephew, Michael Wilde both of NY
He also survived by his fiancé Bernice Despres of Waltham with whom he spent 10 years and her family whom he loved.
Roger will be greatly missed by his friends in the Receiver Lab; Mike Kelly, Rube, Dick Kessler, Bob Thompson, Mark Koehnke, Steve Sparagna,(Pretty as a Rainbow), and Leo Hanley. His very good friend, Claude Cloutier, and the members of the Valley Lake Association, Aldea Duplessis and those of the “French Connection” are just a few who he enjoyed spending his time with.
ROGER WARREN WILDE, Chelmsford, MA. DUE TO COVID-19, SERVICES ARE PRIVATE. All are welcome to attend the funeral service virtually on Monday, January 10 at 11 A.M. at www.dolanfuneralhome.com ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html, Ronald McDonald House at www.rmhc.org, or ASPCA at www.aspca.org/ways-to-give. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com
Robert Thompson
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I first met Roger in 1969 when he came into our section in Wayland Lab as a Unit Man.
Before he had worked in Waltham and was a union steward. I can picture Roger as having
been a very effective union steward. He must have been a “thorn” in the company’s side; in fact he boasted about being so.
There is such an overwhelming flood of fond memories that come back to me when I think of Roger. I could write volumes. William Shakespeare said it best.:
” When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine,
That all the world will be in love with night,
And pay no worship to the garish sun,”
Leo Hanley
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RW as I called him was a great, one of kind guy with a big heart. If you needed a good laugh RW was the man to see. Roger could give as well as take, although giving was a craft he perfected. He loved talking about his family and always asked about mine, he wanted to hear ever detail. During my only trip to the lake house he said “kid let’s pour a Jameson and watch one of the greatest movies made” 12 Angry Men, he knew ever line.
RW will be missed by many & I bet he’s on the big lake above handing out boxes of Russell Stover Chocolates to all the woman. By now you know St Peter is a Red Sox fan, Rest In Peace my friend.
Richard Sarmento
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I met Roger through his twin brother Gerry who I worked with. I can’t comment about one without commenting about the other.They we’re so attached at the hip(pardon the pun)They could finish each other’s sentences.Gerry loved Rogers’s company and couldn’t wait for that big Caddy to pull up in front of his house.They’d sit around the table,Roger with a beer and Gerry with a Moxie telling stories that made you laugh your head off.Unfortunately,I haven’t seen Roger since Gerry’ passing but I remember at the cemetery when they buried Gerry,Roger tearfully tossed the first handful of earth on Gerry’s casket.I’m sure Gerry would have done the same for Roger……rest easy Yankee fan!……Rich Sarmento
Donna L. Tziolis
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Roger will be sadly missed. He was a favorite customer at the salon, always made me feel appreciated with his kind, complementing words and occasional gifts of cookies, candy, cheese and mostly maple syrup freshly made from VT. When I opened my salon on Stevens St, back in 2008, Jerry came in and got a hair cut. A week later, in walks this guy, Im looking at him thinking, didn’t I just cut his hair last week, he must be losing it… Then I get him in the chair and think…, I’m the one losing it, his hair is not just cut. A month later, same scenario, but the mention of his twin brother came to light. I realize their looks have their differences, but, not particularly noticeable to someone meeting them separately for the first, second time. I enjoyed our many conversations and his warm spirit. I will always remember him fondly. My heart goes out to his family, and his love Bernice, that he was so smitten by. I remember when he met her, The stories he would tell me about going to the dance every Friday, all the gold diggers trying to pick him up. Then Bernice came along, and that was it. His dance card had been filled. She became the topic of conversation, He loved to brag about how great she is. I hope he is up in the tree house in the sky with Jerry enjoying himself. “NO GIRLS ALLOWED”. Love that story.. He and Jerry would talk about the tree house they made. I would joke about coming to see it and they would both shoot me down. I thought that was the best! The 2 twins in the tree house at their age. I am very saddened and want to thank Elizabeth for reaching out and letting me know he had passed. Words cannot express my gratitude for that call.
Warmest Regards,
Donna
Studio D &
LAER Realty Partners
Linda Brucr
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To the entire Nason Family,
Lisa, Jeff, Rachel, Jen and Brandon
Our heartfelt condolences. You all will remain in our hearts and prayers!
Davis and Linda Bruce
Cathy (Shea) Moran
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To the family of the one and only Roger Wilde. I had the pleasure of working with Roger at Raytheon for over 35 years. Roger was one of those people, that once you met him, you never forgot him. He kept everyone that he worked with throughly entertained. I would see his face in my office doorway and immediately start laughing. I haven’t had a good belly laugh since Roger retired. I also worked with Marie. Marie and her sisters made the most incredible candy at Christmas time. Roger always made sure I got a box. The boys in the Receiver Lab enjoyed Roger’s antics, well, most of the time. You will be missed, RIP and behave yourself.
Mark Koehnke
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Roger was one of the first people I met the day I joined the Raytheon Receiver Dept. in 1978. He commented on my new “Johnny Carson suit and toothy smile”. This was the first of many Roger-isms in the years to come. He was the defacto department “welcome wagon” and apparently in charge of new-hire initiations and hazing. He asked me who I was reporting to and when I replied ‘Dick Kessler’, he looked me straight in the eye and shook his head sadly – “Oh you poor b******, he fired the last 10 people who worked for him”. Roger had the ultimate poker face, so I believed him, so I was terrified starting on day one!
Roger was also our “unit man” back then who kept cabinets of spare components. As we built, tested and often blew up our circuits, we had to go to Roger for spare parts. He knew he had the upper hand then on us “punk kids”. Getting replacement parts from Roger required a combination of groveling, mild threats and/or bribery (!). I had watched old timers who used to resort to whacking him with a ruler to get parts (all in fun of course!). I was too new to try that so I resorted to groveling and bribery which usually involved boxes of Cheese-Its. It was quite the memorable and prolonged process.
Fortunately, I didn’t fall for Roger’s advice to ask the guards for my “Free Christmas Turkey” or his offer to sell me his “excess vacation days”, but it was quite entertaining to watch Roger work the latest crop of new-hires with these offers which many actually fell for! As a die-hard Yankee fan in the midst of Red Sox nation, baseball season was always exciting with Roger too. During baseball season one year during our “temporary” location in Norwood, Roger was just relentless in gloating about the Yankees. A posse was formed and he ended up being lashed to a support beam with duct tape to stop his tirade….for at least a little while. Fortunately, there was no adult supervision while we were in Norwood. If only we had cell phone cameras back then. We also enjoyed playing many lunchtime Bocci games while we were in Norwood with Roger and the receiver department gang. Those were good times!
Roger was a great friend and despite that tough, gruff exterior, once you got to know him, he would give you the shirt of his back to help you. He had a heart that was as big or bigger than his personality and despite that tough exterior, he was quite a sentimental guy who was quite proud of his family and would often tell me stories of their latest accomplishments or adventures. His sense of humor and personality certainly made life at work fun and memorable and he will be dearly missed by his Raytheon family. My deepest condolences to Bernice and the entire Wilde family. I’m just grateful that we got to have one last visit with Roger in October during lunch with his Raytheon friends. RIP Roger, thanks for all your help, friendship and laughs over the years. I’ll miss you buddy. Be good up there!
Michael Kelly
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I have so many fond memories of Roger I don’t even know where to start. My morning routine usually would be going to Roger’s office with my coffee in hand enjoying our bantering and laughter to start my day. Roger’s one liners I’ve heard over the years often make me smile to this day. I will never forget the time when I first met Roger, he had everyone riled up over the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry. He would whip out a roll of 50 dollar bills telling me how he wins money every year on his bets against these pukes (Red Sox) ? and how he used his winnings for home improvements on his summer home in Vermont and named the new rooms after the people who lost the betting with him. Rest in peace my friend. I am going to miss you.❤
Russell Gutknecht
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I have know the Twins all my life growing up on Forest St. until we moved away for a couple of years in the early 1950’s. About 1955 we moved back to Blodgett St., around the corner from Forest St. I can remember shooting baseball cards on the sidewalk in front of their Grandparents house before their Father passed and they finally moved from Chelmsford St. to upstairs over the Grandparents. I have so many memories of time with the Twins, riding in Gerald’s 1933 Chevy Coupe, in the rumble seat. We went to Lowell High School together, they were a couple of years ahead of me but my Mother would drive us downtown to school. I moved out on my own around 1969 but was minding my folks in the late 70’s and would go up to see the Twins. I was not in a very good place at that time, (unemployed and no plans), and Roger asked me if I wanted a job at Raytheon. I worked at the “bomb factory”, Raytheon for just over 25 years. I hate to think where I would be if Roger hadn’t got me that interview at Raytheon. I own Roger the world for that. I haven’t had much contact with him since I retired in 2002 but I have years of fond memories with the both of them. RIP Roger.