With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Dr. Roger J. Schilling of Mystic Connecticut. He died on February 16, 2024, going about his normal routine. He was 72. A celebration of Roger will be held in the spring in both Mystic, Connecticut and Dubuque, Iowa.
Roger was born in April of 1951 in Dubuque, Iowa to Joan and Russell Schilling. The Schillings are a big family and Roger grew up as the eldest with 8 younger siblings. His siblings remember how he worked at Miracle Car Wash and as a golf caddy on the weekends so he could afford cool clothes. Roger golfed with his brothers and played football through high school and college, always wearing white cleats because he wanted to be the next Joe Namath. He loved his family very much, even if got a dog against everyone’s wishes or brought home a queen size waterbed without telling anyone first.
He was successful, putting himself through the University of Dubuque and University of Nevada Reno by working at the Dubuque Packing Company. He achieved a doctorate degree in biochemistry and went on to be an accomplished scientist with accolades and patents. He worked in research and discovery in the pharmaceutical industry and at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. His community came to know him as the person to consult when they received a new diagnosis or had questions about a prescription. He enjoyed being able to explain complicated scientific concepts in a way that anyone could understand.
Roger was a founding member of the Formosa Yacht Club where he served on the Board in the Yeoman position for many years. He spent much of his time there, enjoying the view of the water, smoking cigars and laughing with his friends.
He loved wearing bow ties, playing golf with the Seahorse golf league and pretending to hate his cat. He will be missed for his sense of humor most of all.
Roger told his brother, Mark, that if he didn’t become successful as a scientist, he’d sell hot dogs on the beach instead. But he made Mark promise not to say a word and tell everyone he was a garbage man in Reno. Whatever afterlife might find him now, his family wishes him a successful career as a hot dog salesman (or as a garbage man, depending on who asks).
He's survived by his children, Cosmo, Allison and his stepson Marshall Johnson, his parents: Joan and Russell Schilling, siblings: Gary (Patti), Jan (Ron) Kleibenstein, Dennis (Kim), Mark, Sandy (Rod) Chalupa, Jim (Aida), Kathy (Steve) Baule, Tim (Amy), his ex-wife, Amanda Schilling, and his many beloved friends.
The family will thankfully receive your support through greeting cards and memorials in Roger’s memory, which may be mailed to Dinoto Funeral Home at 17 Pearl Street Mystic, CT 06355, attention to Roger Schilling. The family also asks you to sign the electronic guestbook with your emails, so they can invite you to the services in the spring.