Roger F. Casavant, 84, died Friday, January 7, 2011 at The Eliot Healthcare Center in Natick, MA.
A longtime resident of Natick and Wayland, Roger was born in Natick to the late P. Victor and Margaret Casavant.
He attended Natick public schools, and upon graduation from Natick HS in 1944 was drafted by the Navy and placed in the amphibious forces. As a seaman first class, Roger was a Coxswain who manned the tillers of a personnel landing craft at the invasion of Okinawa. He was honorably discharged in 1945, then attended and graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1949. Roger pursued his passion for dealing in rare books for most of his life, enjoyed sports, travel, and opera, and had a keen wit. Roger was a trustee at The Natick Historical Society for many years, and in 2004 uncovered the oldest known manuscript of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “A Scarlet Letter”, which brought a record price at auction, made news worldwide, and brought Roger his 15 minutes of fame.
Roger is survived by his loving children Scott & wife Diane of Worcester, Philip of Natick, and Janine of San Diego, CA; his dear sister Lydia Heck & husband Lincoln of Needham, sister Marcia, and brothers the late Wilfred and Victor Casavant; his former wife the late Ruth Casavant; and several nieces & nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service on Thursday January 13, at 12:00 Noon in the Chapel of the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St. (Natick Common) Natick.
Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Natick. Visiting hours are Thursday beginning at 10:00 A.M. prior to the service.
Donations in Roger’s name may be sent to The Natick Historical Society, 58 Eliot St., Natick, MA 01760 or the American Lung Association, 460 Totten Pond Road, Waltham, MA 02451.