Honoring Roger M. Boor, Jr.

Roger M. Boor, Jr. was born on January 28, 1961 in Dayton, Ohio.  He lived in several surrounding states until his family settled in Downers Grove, IL where he spent his key developmental years through high school and college.

His love of music began early and was a constant throughout his entire life.  From his early days learning guitar and reading liner notes on album covers, he retained the most impressive library of music knowledge that allowed him to best the keenest competitors in any music trivia contest.  He actually marked all of the key moments of his life by the music of the day and you never knew what vivid memory would come to life when an “oldie” came on the radio.

He was well-embroiled in operating the radio station at Downer’s South with who would become a life-long friend, Jim Beatty, and won over the student body with both his knowledge and wit. He also spent his spare time composing music and lyrics to original songs.

His dedication to music led him into careers selling radio advertising, traveling with the Christian rock group Petra, and to running the largest record store in Nashville, CATS Records, where he met many of the leading artists of the time.

On the job front, Roger was also a cook, worked with developmentally delayed adults, handled merchandising at a concert venue, ran a photography studio with his first wife, Kathleen, and grew a software consulting company leading into Y2K.

In 1996, Roger met his match in wit and wisdom and relocated to California in January of 1998. Although he spent a time day trading the stock market, he found his professional niche guiding entrepreneurs through the business start-up process.  

Through New Business Consultants, subsequently refocused as Silicon Valley Accounting Solutions, Roger and Elaine spent nearly 20 years running their business together.  They built an accounting services organization aimed at small businesses, start-ups, and non-profit organizations.  Roger was the primary inspiration for the company’s website and marketing programs and networked throughout the bay area on its behalf.

In their time together, Roger and Elaine frequented local music and comedy establishments, spent many vacations on cruises and in Las Vegas, and became season ticket holders for the San Jose Sharks.  These activities were earmarked by photographs taken with the many famous (and some not so famous) personalities they met.

Having dealt with life-long health issues, Roger lost his struggle on July 1^st, 2023.  He was greatly loved and will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege to have known him, in particular, by his wife and partner of 25 years, Elaine Orgain, his brother Jeffrey and sister-in-law Laurie.

Roger was best known for his enormous heart, his superior wit, his business acumen, and his endless music knowledge.  More importantly, however, knowing Roger was the warm hug and the encouragement to be our best selves that raised the spirits of all who knew him.

To his wife, partner, and dear friend, he was giving and genuine, sharing the best parts of himself while shielding her from whatever shortcomings he perceived in himself.  They lived their lives together bound in humor, succeeding in business, and playing in Las Vegas.

To his staff and business associates, he was a great sounding board.  If you could tell him where you wanted to end up, he could lay a path for you to reach your goals.  He mentored many entrepreneurs while driving his own company forward and was an inspiration to anyone stalled in their thinking along the way.

To his poker buddies, he was the plucky comic relief at the table, rising to any music trivia challenge, and all the while, plotting his strategy to abscond with everyone’s chips.

Roger was predeceased by his parents Beverly and Roger Boor, Sr. of Dayton, OH and survived by one brother, Jeffrey Boor of Hot Springs Village, AR.

He was laid to rest in Mission City Memorial Park in a private ceremony on August 28, 2023.