West Lebanon, NH – Roger B. Arend, a longtime resident of Hanover, Enfield, and West Lebanon, NH, passed away peacefully in his sleep with family members by his side on April 7, 2026, at the Byrne Center for Palliative Care at DHMC. He was 87.
Roger was born in 1939 in Milwaukee, WI, to Steven Arend and Mary “Mae” Arend (Benecke). Following his father’s death in the Guadalcanal campaign in 1942, Roger was raised by his mother and grandparents in La Porte, IN. His mother ran a punch press at Allis-Chalmers, and his grandfather was a locksmith – both remained enduring figures in his life.
Roger graduated from La Porte High School in 1957. He played the trombone in the marching band and orchestra, sang in the choir, and was a National Honor Society member, Indiana Boys State delegate, shot putter on the track team, student body vice president, and National Merit Scholar. Roger graduated from Purdue University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. At Purdue, Roger was the University Presbyterian Church Board of Elders chair, Westminster Fellowship vice president, and the Business Manager and Humor Page Editor of the Purdue Engineer magazine.
During his final two years at Purdue, Roger was fixed up on two different blind dates, by two different friends, with the same girl from DePauw University. Taking matters into their own hands, Roger and Lee married in June of 1963. They celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary last summer.
After college, Roger worked as an engineer for the Illinois Highway Department. He was drafted in 1962 and assigned to the US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (USA CRREL) in Hanover. Roger remained at CRREL until 1970, when his department was to be relocated. Rather than leave the Upper Valley, Roger founded Photographic Interpretation Corp (PIC) with two colleagues. PIC performed flood control, erosion control, and dam safety studies throughout the United States for the Army Corps of Engineers. In 1980, Roger started Terra-Map, using early digital systems to map geology, land use, tax parcels, and electrical distribution systems. Roger retired in 2008.
Roger and Lee joined the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College in 1964, where Roger served in numerous capacities, including elder, deacon, delegate, choir member, church school teacher, and money counter for the Christmas market. At the state and national levels, Roger served as the NH Conference representative to the UCC Executive Council, chair of the Executive Council Finance Committee, and a representative at four General Synods.
In the community, Roger was a member of the Hanover Lions, Lebanon Rotary, Hanover Conservation Commission, North Country Chordsmen Barbershop Chorus, and Hanover Youth Hockey. Roger refereed indoor and outdoor throwing events for Dartmouth Track & Field and ran the clock and scoreboard for Dartmouth Men’s Hockey (33 years) and Women’s Hockey (13 years).
In his retirement, Roger was an avid puzzler and enjoyed volunteering at DHMC on patient advocacy committees and particularly as curator of the candy section at the Pink Smock. He also took great satisfaction in setting and breaking his own personal records with the support and camaraderie of members of the Thor’s Stone Athletic Club weightlifting group at CCBA.
Roger is survived by his beloved wife Lee; children Geoffrey Arend (Rachel) and Joshua Arend (Karen); and grandchildren Madeleine Arend and Charles Arend. As a husband, Roger was Lee’s biggest supporter and enthusiastically encouraged her varied interests and activities. As a father, he inspired with an unspoken expectation of curiosity and consideration, and he never missed a hockey or soccer game or school performance. As a grandfather, he followed his grandchildren’s academic and athletic achievements with a religious fervor and bragged about them to everyone he met.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 9th, at 11:00 AM at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College in Hanover. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College or the Upper Valley Haven.
Roger’s family is grateful to everyone at DHMC, its Emergency Department, MICU, and the Byrne Center, who provided care, comfort, and grace during the final phase of Roger’s life.
An on-line guestbook can be found at rand-wilson.com.
Click here to sign the guest book or honor their memory with flowers, donations, or other heartfelt tributes