Roger Dwayne Corpus

My nephew Roger Corpus was one of the kindest most genuine souls ever to walk the earth. He was rich in ways most people can only wish for...rich in authenticity, charm, wit, empathy, loyalty, humor, talent, humility, curiosity, and most certainly rich in the love of his family and friends. He could light up a room with his smile, delight any crowd with his laughter, and throw one mean curve ball. He loved sports, especially baseball - go Yankees! He had the heart of a competitor and champion. Roger always marched to his own drum beat, which would fully explain his unwavering, insatiable, one true love for all things musical especially his treasured drum and bugle corp days with the Blue Knights and The Cadets. Those were life altering experiences that earned him priceless memories and eternal kinships with some of the absolute best and coolest consummate 'band nerds' from around the world. It served as the beginning of his absolute DCI obsession that brought him so much joy and special friendships. He was always confident and head strong, determined to live life on his own terms and that began literally from the time he was a toddler. He chose to learn how to walk all on his own by crawling to the wall, sliding his little diapered butt up the wall to a standing position and then taking off walking, insistent on no one helping him, holding his hand, or trying to break his fall. And fall he did, but he never cried and never gave up. He'd get back up and repeat it relentlessly until he had enough. That in a nutshell describes his approach to life in general. He made his own choices and lived his own adventures unapologetically. He had a gift and love for service and hospitality, spending his life's work in every type of food and beverage establishment imaginable where he cultivated so many life-long relationships with colleagues and customers alike, all of whom he considered much more as family than friends. I always knew he did that type of work because it didn't feel like work to him. He loved it because it was one of his best annointed gifts. He was never happier or more in his element or his natural self than when he was connecting with people, making them feel special and seen, being truly present, listening to their stories and sharing his own. A stranger he never met - just the newest of friends. In the last few years he also developed a love for transforming, growing, and rescuing plants and landscapes. Taking a wild, uncultivated, overgrown, forgotten yard or a plant that was destined for the dumpster and turning it into something beautiful and tranquil was his kind of poetry and escapism. These are just a very few of the things that made Roger so special. Some of my most treasured memories in life were in Roger's company. I've loved him since I was just 9 years old. I still remember like it was yesterday the outfit he came home from the hospital wearing. How can he possibly be gone? It doesn't seem real. I feel completely lost knowing he will never again walk this earth, but I'm rescued from my grief when I visualize him in heaven talking baseball or playing dominos or 31 with my Dad, and Uncles Leco and Elias or golfing with Jesse, or snuggling Bonnie, or fishing with Richard, or enjoying some tamales and pan dulce with Grandma, or cracking jokes or quoting movie scenes with Joey and Israel or telling Brock about how amazing his son and grandkids are doing. I know while I am left broken, he has been eternally restored, finally free from all the heavy afflictions and burdens he concealed and silently shouldered and because I loved him so dearly and trust in God so deeply, I have to keep all those heavenly images in sharp focus and trust that all our lost loved ones came calling for Roger in the very end and escorted him to his glory just as I hope they'll come for me too when my work on Earth is done and we can all be reunited. I'll never stop loving you Roger or forget just how special you were, but I'll also never be the same for having loved and lost you way too soon.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.