Roger M. Laverty Jr.
Obituary
June 22, 1921 - September 8, 2014 Roger Montgomery Laverty, Jr. passed away on September 8, 2014 at his home in Santa Monica. He was 93. He died peacefully three weeks after his wife of 70 years, Joan Laverty, passed away. Apparently, he was in a hurry to be with her again. Roger was born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania on June 22, 1921 to Roger Montgomery Laverty and Mae Lyle Laverty. In 1930 Roger Sr. quit his job as a Vice President with the A&P Grocery Company, and moved his family to Southern California to begin a new adventure. A friend had started a grocery business and had fallen ill. Roger Sr. took over his business and from that small beginning, founded Thriftimart, Inc., one of the largest grocery companies in Southern California. The family moved to Beverly Hills where Roger Jr. attended Beverly Hills High School. Already showing the qualities that would define him, he was student body president and captain of the football team and later would be voted the Beverly Hills High Athlete of the Decade. He also met Joan, his wife to be. After graduating he headed to Stanford University where he became co-captain of the football and rugby teams as well as president of his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi. In 1941 he played in the Rose Bowl where Stanford defeated Nebraska. Only a sophomore at the time, he admitted that he didn't get much playing time, but later went on to become a star in the next two years. He was drafted by the New York Giants football team, but World War II was on and he had other things to do. After graduation in 1943, Roger married Joan, joined the Navy, attended OCS, and was commissioned as an Ensign. For the next three years of World War II Roger served aboard the USS Finnegan a destroyer escort in the Pacific. Returning from the war, Roger and Joan settled in Santa Monica where they had four children, Roger III (Rocky), Jan, Pat and Mary. Roger began his business career at Thriftimart in 1945 where he learned the grocery business from the ground up by operating a single Thriftimart grocery store in Brentwood, California with his brother Bob. Thereafter, he worked in various executive positions at Thriftimart and was named Chairman and CEO in 1975, a position he held until he retired in 1984. A charismatic leader, he helped grow the business to over 80 supermarkets and over 60 Smart & Final Cash and Carry stores. After retirement, Roger served on various corporate and charitable boards including Williams Sonoma, Inc. He was incredibly generous with both his time and money. Among many philanthropic efforts, he endowed two permanent athletic scholarships at Stanford University where he retained close ties with the athletic department over the years. Roger was an extraordinary man to all who knew him. He charmed everyone he met, making lasting friendships that spanned generations. He was a great father and grandfather, teaching his children and grandchildren important lessons by example rather than by lecture. He never expected anyone to do something he wouldn't do himself. He taught all his children the importance of laughter, and especially the ability and insight to laugh at themselves when signs of self-importance became evident. He encouraged his children and grandchildren to think for themselves. When they would parrot someone else's ideas, he liked to say, "Just because they say it, doesn't make it so." Most of all, he was always supportive and generous to a fault. He was the ultimate provider for his wife and children. For many years Roger and Joan took their grandchildren on trips, sans the kids' parents, to special places the world over. Boompa, as he was known to all his grandkids, excelled at being the ultimate camp counselor--organizing activities, games and outings, dispensing wisdom and discipline in equal doses--and these trips became one of his many enduring legacies, filled with loving and wonderful memories for everyone involved. By example, he taught those who knew him how to face the challenges of life. He self-described himself as "tough to kill" and he lived up to that description surviving cancer, a serious automobile accident, a tragic plane crash and years of a progressive motor neuron deterioration that ultimately left him mostly paralyzed. He also lost his sixteen year old grandson to a car accident and his daughter-in-law to ALS. Through it all, he lived every minute with an upbeat attitude and never complained. He was always looking for new ways to enjoy life. He played golf into his 90's even though he had to have someone hold him as he swung the club. As his life neared its end, Roger was determined not to succumb to his many physical issues while Joan was still alive. He refused to leave her in this world alone. After she died he knew his last job was done. Roger is survived by his four children and their spouses Corinne, Dana, Georgie and Kevin, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Laverty Harris. A memorial "wake" and Celebration of Life will he held for both Roger and Joan at 3:00 p.m. on October 25th, at the Los Angeles Country Club. -
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