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/NCTGFD3YBRCGH56B
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: 08/31/2024
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