Salem: Roger A. Banville, age 75 of Salem, died on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, following a long illness. He was born in Salem to the late Alexander and Elizabeth (Girard) Banville. Roger was married to Marlene (Beaulieu) Banville, with whom he had five children.
A lifelong resident of Salem, he was a graduate of St. Joseph Academy and studied at Boston University before entering the Navy. He served during the Korean War, completing his tour of duty at the Charlestown Naval Yard in Boston. Upon completion of his military service, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Northeastern University.
Roger began his career in computer operations at the Sylvania headquarters in Salem. He was a computer programmer with W.R. Grace and became the manager of systems and programming for the Polaroid Corporation in the mid 1960’s. Following 2 years with Polaroid, he went on to New England Bank Card, where he was instrumental in the design and implementation of one of the first automated credit card processing applications for First National Bank of Boston, Shawmut Bank and New England Merchant’s Bank. In 1970 he joined the National Casket Co. as data processing manager for the next 5 years.
In 1975 he was hired as Director of Data Processing and Telecommunications for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where he remained until 1979. Roger was the Director of Data Processing for North Shore Community College from 1979 to 1982. In 1981 he formed his own Data Processing Consulting Inc. when he became a consultant to Industrial General Corporation , a national conglomerate of manufacturing corporations. He retired in 1992.
Roger served as chairman to the Essex County Community Concerts Association from 1972 to ’74. He was appointed to the newly formed Off-Street Parking Commission in the early 1970, which was responsible for the creation and maintenance of Salem parking facilities. The committee was instrumental in working with the Salem Redevelopment Authority on the construction of the first downtown parking garage. He was a Member of the Immaculate Conception Parish of Salem, and was a 50 year member of the Knights of Columbus Salem Council # 76 and was also a member of the Victoria Rocci Post of Beverly.
In addition to his wife of 48 years, he is survived by 5 sons: Jean-Paul Banville of Salem, Norman R. Banville & his wife Elaine of Topsfield, Richard T. Banville & his wife Laurie of Dunstable, Robert A. Banville & his wife Diane of Salem, Kenneth M. Banville & his wife Jennifer of Lynn. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren: Meghan, Jennifer, Bryan, Michael, Kayla, Mathew, Kurtis, Seth, Mellissa, David, & Ariel Banville and Marc Moise and 3 nieces. He was predeceased by his sister Alma (Banville) McCarthy of Danvers.
Relatives and friends are invited to his funeral on Friday, January19, 2007 at 9 am from the Levesque Funeral Home, 163 Lafayette St. [Rt. 114 / 1-A] followed by his funeral mass in the Immaculate Conception Church, Hawthorne Blvd., Salem at 10 am. Visiting hours: Today (Thursday) 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 pm. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: American Diabetes Assoc. Memorial Program, PO.Box 1132, Fairfax, VA 22038-1132 or the American Heart Assoc. 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.