Roger Warren Huff

Roger Warren Huff passed away on October 18, 2024 at the age of 81. A man whose life was centered on his family, Roger was often described as kind and generous, a good listener with a dry and very fun sense of humor. Born at Newton Wellesley Hospital on October 14, 1943, Roger grew up first in Wellesley and then moved with his parents and siblings to Needham. Attending Needham High School, he played the clarinet in the marching band and went on multiple band trips up and down the eastern seaboard. Roger ran cross-country and was a hurdler on the Needham High School track team. Early in his high school career, he met his wife Jean. Roger and Jean and their respective siblings spent many days together enjoying the great outdoors, movies, concerts and dances. 
Roger attended Massachusetts Bay Community College as well as Williams College and spent six years in the Massachusetts Army National Guard, where he completed his service as a Sergeant and Company Clerk. He went on to work for the Framingham Trust Bank and was a Restaurant Manager for the McDonald’s Corporation before retiring and working for the US Census Bureau and the Vita-Needle Corporation.
After marrying, Roger and Jean lived in Foxboro, Massachusetts before returning to Needham to raise their family. In 1967 they purchased their home on Hunnewell Street where they raised their two children and practiced their hand at “This Old House,” remodeling and renovating their century-old New England home. Their home was a gathering place for family and friends with events ranging from lobster bakes to New Year’s Eve parties that included bobsledding on the Wellesley Country Club hills, to a multi-day event for their granddaughter’s rowing team from Vashon Island, Washington.
As his children grew up, Roger focused his free time on his family. He was the scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 2, based at the Congregational Church, a soccer coach for both his son and daughter’s teams, and a Dad who cross-country skied, hiked in the woods, camped, and shared his great love of sports with his children. Roger could often be found in the bleachers at Fenway Park, holding his hands over his children’s ears as fans shared their opinions with players on the field. 
When grandchildren arrived, Roger and Jean hosted an annual “Grammy Camp” summer camp at home, hosting all four of their grandchildren for a month of fun and field trips. It was a home full of love and laughter.
Roger was a voracious reader and could often be found with a book (or two!) in his hands. Some of his favorite places for reading included Marblehead Neck, MA, Boothbay Harbor, Maine on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, in Meredith, NH and at any beach on Cape Cod. But he didn’t just read there – he played with his family: deep-sea fishing off the rocks, sailing in the family’s small sailboat, biking the Cape Cod Canal trail and playing in the water with his children and grandchildren. Building “chicken forts” to fight the incoming tide with the two generations behind him was a hilarious and sand-filled pastime. 
Roger was a fan of all things seafood and subs, visiting Maine for lobster, steamers, fried clams and of course, Amato’s Real Italians. 
In 2019, Roger and Jean sold their home in Needham and moved to New Pond Village in Walpole, MA. Roger became very involved in the community, serving as Assistant Treasurer, forming a cribbage club, teaching cribbage and working on the dining committee. Everyone who met him remarked on his friendly nature, easy conversation and dry sense of humor. He will be missed. 
Roger is survived by his loving wife Jean, his son Gregory Huff and daughter-in-law Jessa Huff of Natick, MA, his daughter Alison Huff Jeffries and son-in-law Kevin Jeffries of Seattle, Washington, his four grandchildren Hailey Huff (Framingham, MA), Mackenzie Huff (Natick, MA), Kirsten Girard (Oakland, CA), and Mike Jeffries (Colorado Springs, CO), and one great-grandson, Walker Jeffries (Colorado Springs, CO).
A memorial service celebrating Roger’s life will be held at the Needham Congregational Church on Saturday, October 26 at 11 am.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the New Pond Village library fund, in Roger's name. An avid reader, Roger could often be found with a book (or two!) in his hand. The library fund will ensure that his community at New Pond Village will read on! 
Please make donations payable to: Roger Huff NPV Reading Fund and send to the following address:

Roger Warren Huff 
Roger Huff NPV Reading Fund
New Pond Village
180 Main Street
Walpole, MA 02081
Attn: Adam Manchester 

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