Roger Owen Groh

Roger Owen Groh, born in New York City in 1955 to Dorothea Jones and John Witherspoon Groh, and raised in Garden City, NY. Roger passed away from cancer on July 19, 2024, in Los Angeles County, California.

Roger traveled the world for both business and pleasure. He was an extreme sportsman; an avid skier, mountaineer and sailor. Roger worked as a ski instructor in Vail, Colorado while in college and later was on the cover of Skiing magazine. He successfully summited many of the world’s tallest peaks: including Denali, Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Kosciuszko and Elbrus. He also competed in sailing races across the Pacific in events such as the Transpac and the Pacific Cup. Roger held leadership roles at the Yacht Racing Association of San Francisco which oversees yacht racing clubs in Northern California. A dedicated athlete, Roger was always ready for a tennis match or a pick-up basketball game. He also coached youth lacrosse, soccer and basketball teams in the Bay Area.

Roger's professional career began after he attended the University of Denver. He worked in finance, founding and supporting the development of companies in New York City, San Francisco, and Shanghai. He later transitioned to the film and television industry, appearing in over 25 films, television shows and TV movies. At the time of his death, he was running in the 2024 election to the U.S. House of Representatives for California's 44th Congressional District.

Roger's "end of watch" will be marked by a nautical memorial, an Eight Bells Ceremony off the coast of Northern California. He is survived by two sisters, his three daughters and five amazing grandchildren.

To honor Roger, memorial contributions may be made to: https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/ or https://americanalpineclub.org