More detail on this person: Colonel Roger
Wayne Cederholm (USMC - Retired) passed away
on 25 August, 2016. Colonel Cederholm was born
on 10 February, 1937 in Weymouth,
Massachusetts to Edmund and Josephine (Ippolito)
Cederholm.
He grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut, where he
attended Crosby High School and was a great three
sport athlete (football, basketball and baseball)
being named All City and All Naugatuck Valley
Conference multiple times.
Colonel Cederholm attended Bradley University in
Peoria, Illinois for two years before enlisting in
the United States Marine Corps, serving a two-year
enlistment with 5th Marines. He then re-entered
the Marine Corps as a MARCAD, receiving his
commission as a Second Lieutenant and Naval
Aviator Wings of Gold in 1963. He was stationed at
Tustin Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) where he
flew the venerable UH-34. He volunteered to go to
Vietnam and, one week before deploying, he
married the love of his life - Sylvia (Boyce) on
15 May, 1965 in Las Vegas. Roger and Sylvia were
married for over 51 years. In Vietnam, Roger flew
316 combat missions, and was shot down twice
rescuing injured US Marines. On one of those
missions, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross for extraordinary aerial achievement in
rescuing 40 wounded Marines under withering Viet
Cong fire that struck his helicopter with multiple
rounds. He undoubtedly saved the lives of many
that day according to the citation; he never spoke
of that however, for he was a humble man.
Upon his return from Vietnam, Roger and Sylvia
were stationed at New River, MCAS where they
welcomed a son, Michael - now a Brigadier General
in the Marine Corps. Additional postings included
Pensacola, FL and Peoria, IL, where Roger finished
his degree at Bradley University on the Deans
List. Honorably Discharged in 1970, Roger and
Sylvia returned to Waterbury, CT and welcomed a
daughter, Kristen - now a Special Agent in the
FBI. Roger began a career in the insurance
business that spanned 30 years and culminated in
managing the Litchfield Insurance Group in
Winsted, CT.
Roger and Sylvia retired to North Fort Myers in
2005, where they built a home on a golf
course...and lived their retirement dream of
enjoying family and friends.
Roger is survived by his loving wife of 51 years,
Sylvia, his son Michael and his wife Rebecca, his
daughter Kristen and her husband Scott, his sister
Joan and her husband Harry, his sister Karin and
her husband Joe, seven grandchildren he loved
dearly: John, Roger, Amy, James, Joseph, Zachary
and Mitchell, and so many friends and extended
family.
Roger taught us all by his example, as he
displayed unwavering values, determination, and a
positive attitude. He loved spending time with
fellow Marines and playing golf with dear friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making
donations to the Semper Fi Fund, semperfifund.org.
Roger was a very humble and generous man...with
the heart of a lion who loved his Family, Friends
and Country ferociously. He made a huge difference
in all our lives, will be sorely missed, and will
never be forgotten.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM
Monday, September 5, 2016 at Church of the
Redeemer, 222 South Palm Avenue, Sarasota, FL
34236. Friends will be received from 2 - 4 PM
Sunday, September 4, 2016 in the chapel of Fort
Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589
Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33907.
https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/NCTGF
D3YBRCGH56B
Burial: Fort Myers Memorial Gardens, Fort Myers,
Lee County, Florida, USA
Burial information: Fort Myers Memorial Gardens, Fort Myers, FL
This information was last updated 09/04/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/11/2023
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