Roger William Newman Smith Roselle, New Jersey Obituary

Roger William Newman Smith

<b>Roger William Newman Smith</b> was born on May 31, 1952 in Newark, New Jersey to the late Louise Newman Mandeville and Roger William Smith. Roger was a member of the Queen of Angels Parish in Newark, the church that made it possible for him to participate in the historic “March on Washington” in 1963 and his meeting of Dr. Martin Luther King on his historic March in Newark in 1968. Roger graduated from West Side High School in June 25, 1970 where he was a founding member of the Newark Student Union, which protested for Black History courses to be implemented in the Newark School System, protested against dress codes, and against the Vietnam War. As part of the Newark Student Union, he gave support to the Black Organization of Students’ takeover of Rutgers Conklin Hall where he met long-life friend Joel Myron, a member of the Students for a Democratic Society, who introduced him to Carl Nicholas, the Leader of the Newark Chapter of the Black Panther Party, which he joined. Roger attended the newly created Livingston College at Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ. He left college to participate in community work with the Black Panther Party, working with the Free Food and Clothing Programs, Political Education, and Welfare and Tenants Rights. As Deputy Chairman of the Newark Chapter of the Black Panther Party, Roger organized numerous Tenant Organizations in the City of Newark and participated in the African Liberation Solidarity Committees fighting against Apartheid in South Africa. He was instrumental in the New Jersey Peace Mobilization against the Vietnam War. In 1979, Roger went to Cuba as a member of the Cuban Cultural Exchange Tour. He worked with the people of Cuba and learned valuable skills as an organizer. He returned to the United States determined to make further changes in the Black Community. Roger recalled a quote from Huey P. Newton, “The revolution has always been in the hands of the young. The young always inherit the revolution.” Roger worked in the Juvenile Court system in Essex County, resulting in participating and organizing programs at the Elizabeth Port Presbyterian Center and the Youth Advocate Program (YAP). YAP is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that advocates for families and at-risk youth to provide safe, cost effective social services. On Sunday, December 22, 2019, Roger transitioned peacefully to the ancestors. He was predeceased by his sister, Victoria Smith; and loving Uncle Frank and Aunt Zelma Earl. Roger leaves to cherish precious memories and his legacy, one daughter, Kya Smith; His Brother Atno Smith; sister-in-law, Gloria Montealegre; nieces: Cali and Attiya Newman; nephews: Camilo Smith and Kelvin Chinkanizi; grand-nephew, Emiliano Smith; and a host of cousins of the Hawley, Green, Gordon and Earl Families Lineage and dear friends. <b>In lieu of flowers, please make taxable donations to the Jericho Movement: Please write your check to: M. Alston/National Jericho Treasurer, Attn: Ashanti Alston, 162 Miller Avenue, Providence, RI 02905. For tax deductible donations, write your check to: Alliance for Global Justice/Jericho, 225 E. 26th Street, Suite 1, Tucson, AZ 85713.</b>
May 31, 1952 - December 22, 201905/31/195212/22/2019
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Obituary

Roger William Newman Smith was born on May 31, 1952 in Newark, New Jersey to the late Louise Newman Mandeville and Roger William Smith. Roger was a member of the Queen of Angels Parish in Newark, the church that made it possible for him to participate in the historic “March on Washington” in 1963 and his meeting of Dr. Martin Luther King on his historic March in Newark in 1968. Roger graduated from West Side High School in June 25, 1970 where he was a founding member of the Newark Student Union, which protested for Black History courses to be implemented in the Newark School System, protested against dress codes, and against the Vietnam War. As part of the Newark Student Union, he gave support to the Black Organization of Students’ takeover of Rutgers Conklin Hall where he met long-life friend Joel Myron, a member of the Students for a Democratic Society, who introduced him to Carl Nicholas, the Leader of the Newark Chapter of the Black Panther Party, which he joined. Roger attended the newly created Livingston College at Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ. He left college to participate in community work with the Black Panther Party, working with the Free Food and Clothing Programs, Political Education, and Welfare and Tenants Rights. As Deputy Chairman of the Newark Chapter of the Black Panther Party, Roger organized numerous Tenant Organizations in the City of Newark and participated in the African Liberation Solidarity Committees fighting against Apartheid in South Africa. He was instrumental in the New Jersey Peace Mobilization against the Vietnam War. In 1979, Roger went to Cuba as a member of the Cuban Cultural Exchange Tour. He worked with the people of Cuba and learned valuable skills as an organizer. He returned to the United States determined to make further changes in the Black Community. Roger recalled a quote from Huey P. Newton, “The revolution has always been in the hands of the young. The young always inherit the revolution.” Roger worked in the Juvenile Court system in Essex County, resulting in participating and organizing programs at the Elizabeth Port Presbyterian Center and the Youth Advocate Program (YAP). YAP is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that advocates for families and at-risk youth to provide safe, cost effective social services. On Sunday, December 22, 2019, Roger transitioned peacefully to the ancestors. He was predeceased by his sister, Victoria Smith; and loving Uncle Frank and Aunt Zelma Earl. Roger leaves to cherish precious memories and his legacy, one daughter, Kya Smith; His Brother Atno Smith; sister-in-law, Gloria Montealegre; nieces: Cali and Attiya Newman; nephews: Camilo Smith and Kelvin Chinkanizi; grand-nephew, Emiliano Smith; and a host of cousins of the Hawley, Green, Gordon and Earl Families Lineage and dear friends. In lieu of flowers, please make taxable donations to the Jericho Movement: Please write your check to: M. Alston/National Jericho Treasurer, Attn: Ashanti Alston, 162 Miller Avenue, Providence, RI 02905. For tax deductible donations, write your check to: Alliance for Global Justice/Jericho, 225 E. 26th Street, Suite 1, Tucson, AZ 85713.

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Events

Jan
13
Visitation
Monday, January 13 2020
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
St. Matthew's Baptist Church
159 E. 9th Avenue
Roselle, NJ 07203
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Jan
13
Funeral Service
Monday, January 13 2020
11:00 AM
St. Matthew's Baptist Church
159 E. 9th Avenue
Roselle, NJ 07203
Get Directions
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