Roger Robinette dies in car accident

Written By:
Madeline Kim

Published:
Oct. 09 2009

          On Friday, October 2, Media Service Technician Roger Robinette died at the age of 59 from injuries sustained in a single car accident.  Investigators attributed the accident to excessive speed and lack of proper safety precautions.  Robinette is survived by his wife, Laurie and their seven children, three of whom are under the age of nine.

            “It is hard to understand how something as simple as a car accident can take his life after all he has done,” Media Specialist Julie Simon said.

            Robinette, a Vietnam War Veteran, was in charge of the school’s media production class in addition to working as a technical assisstant to students and staff.  Robinette was known for his sense of humor and affability. 

            “Roger was great fun to work with,” Media Assistant Robin Pachtman said. “He had a great sense of humor and he was always very accommodating to anyone who needed him.  He used to go out of his way to help you get done what you needed to get done.”

The media production class was a very close-knit group of students with Robinette acting as their core of support.  Robinette was devoted to his students not only as a teacher but also as a mentor and a friend. 

            “He enjoyed what he did and he genuinely cared about his students.  Losing him feels like losing a parent or someone close,” junior Autumn Harmon said.

            Colleagues of Robinette remembered him bringing humor and fun to the workplace.  Despite his good-natured attitude, he never lost sight of his priorities.

            “Mr. Robinette always was a great prankster and jokester, he was always great fun but he also had a great work ethic,” Simon said. “Roger loved living life.  He was always living life on the edge, whether it was riding his motorcycle or actively protesting.”

            Authorities responded to a call around 4:20 p.m. regarding Robinette’s death. On-site investigators determined that Robinette had lost control of his vehicle, and was ejected from the vehicle when it rolled over once.  Robinette was found to have not been wearing his seatbelt which, combined with his excessive speed, led to the accident. 

            A viewing was held Friday, October 9, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Stauffer Funeral Home in Frederick, Maryland and a funeral service was held on Saturday, October 10, at 11:00 a.m. at Fredericktowne Baptist Church in Walkersville, Maryland.   Donations are being accepted to the Robinette Memorial Fund.