Roger J. Moulin

My journey with Roger begin 30+ years ago at York Steak House. There in the melting pot that was the restaurant so many of us from different towns and backgrounds became friends. We worked hard but had fun both at work and afterwards at parties or other events.
During those early years, it seemed to me, wherever Eddie was Roger was either already there or on his way. The two where inseparable. How many hours did they spend at Ed's house with Ed's mom cooking for them at all hours day or night. It was around that time that Rog, Ed, Merle and myself started the "weekly" night out for the boys that has continued to this day. Roger was a major influence for us to always be there and rarely missed a week.
Ah the many nights that we would close the "Pic", and then The North End Pub only to go to my restaurant at 2:00 AM because we "needed" another beer. There we had the pleasure of Roger firing up the grill and Chef Rogeing salads, steaks, fries and dessert. People have often asked about what we could possibly talk about every week. Well sometimes we talked about sports, politics, jobs, family, current events, religion or sometimes we sat in silence. The point was that we realized how fortunate we were to be together especially as we grew older. Ironically these past couple years we began talking of the reality that there would eventually be three of us, then two, then one. Unfortunately this has come to pass too soon. I was often treated to Ed giving Rog a hard time with Roger's reply always being "Did you kiss the boys tonight, good because there might be an accident in the parking lot when we leave". Roger used to also lament that we needed to find another Thursday venue with better service and food. Well my friend you have found the best there is and since you've arrived first, save a seat for the rest of us, We'll be along soon enough and there will be a lot to catch up on. You'd better order Eddie a beer because you know how he hates to wait.
The first time we heard the name Kirsten was when a highly anticipated date was coming up with this new woman. Well from there we heard of:
-the "Magical" night they sat on the end of Chickie's dock under the stars
-the star that was named after Kirsten with The Star Registry
-they started coming to parties dressed exactly the same
-one night, a bunch of us went to dinner at Chuck's and Rog showed up with what looked like a suit case which was actually a phone so she could call when she left work. It was very clear early on the special journey they were on. It was interesting to see that when Roger was grumpy or too playful; three words snapped him back in line."Roger Joseph Moulin" spoken by Kirsten wielded more power than any other more or woman could ever muster.
Next came the pride and joy of Roger's life, Phoebe and Molly. He beamed when talking about them always. Often after telling us something about them, he would follow it up with "Thats my Girl." Could we possibly see a stronger family bond than that which exists at Iowa street? I think not.
Also just some other random memories:
-Hey who was the guy dressed as Santa waving at cars at Tatnick Square?
-His softball career started off badly as we watched him slide into second and break his ankle
-Roger was waiting at the bus station on a trip to see his dad when approached by an elderly woman who sat next to him. As was his nature , he was glad to go inside to the soda machine to get her a drink. Unfortunately upon his return both the woman and his luggage were gone.
-Party cruise in New York. There was a scavenger hunt where teams had to bring items to the cruise director for points but could also steal items from other teams. The call came for men's shorts not being worn and Roger quickly dropped his and ran to the dance floor but was tackled by a woman as big as him who took the shorts from him an left him in his underwear.
- canoe trip 1: heavy rain, Roger and I share a small tent we name the "thimble" where we watch slugs climb the outside. Then we hear a noise that sounds like a wounded animal which turned out to be Merle throwing up.
-canoe trip 2: Roger and I are last men by the fire drinking the last of our beer because we "have to"
- canoe trip 3: Roger and I share a pullout love seat in a condo that is 95 at night. Later that night he gets up to go to the bathroom and is standing directly over a just awakened and startled Eddie and calmly tells him "don't move"
-All the Pig Roasts that we were the 1st to arrive at only to watch Merle eat 1/2 dozen donuts and complain that they suck. Rog and I spend many hours drinking beer and tending to the pigs.
-Come on just one beer at the "Tip" and we'll go home.

Roger as he was until the end was a larger than life character.He had big heart with no fear of showing his love. Sure it came in many forms. It could be a smile, a dig, a laugh, anger or a hug; but he loved all and was always there for anyone with his "what do you need" attitude.

Roger thanks for calling me your friend and sharing all these years with me. To me you were like another brother. I will miss you dearly but have a treasure of memories to cherish.

Your friend Dave

My journey with Roger begin 30+ years ago at York Steak House. There in the melting pot that was the restaurant so many of us from different towns and backgrounds became friends. We worked hard but had fun both at work and afterwards at parties or other events.
During those early years, it seemed to me, wherever Eddie was Roger was either already there or on his way. The two where inseparable. How many hours did they spend at Ed's house with Ed's mom cooking for them at all hours day or night. It was around that time that Rog, Ed, Merle and myself started the "weekly" night out for the boys that has continued to this day. Roger was a major influence for us to always be there and rarely missed a week.
Ah the many nights that we would close the "Pic", and then The North End... READ MORE →

Thank you Rick for reminding us of all these funny times. You made us laugh on a very sad day.

We also remembered the time that all of you moved our family from the apartment on Pleasant St. to Wells St. Chickie's truck's defroster was broken and they used a candle on the dashboard to attempt to clear the windshield. I think the truck's name was Bertha. Then Roger and Eddie were sitting at the kitchen table set up in the bed of the truck having a beer while Chickie drove down the street.

Roger had a party at Wells St. and Eddie and Roger were dancing up on our Mom's wooden bench and broke it.

Roger had a beach party in his first apartment when he moved out. He brought sand into the apartment and spread it all over the floor.......just to make things authentic. Amazing.......who does that?

Always lots of laughs!

On a serious note, he was a wonderful son and brother and will be missed forever. He was the man of our house at a young age and kept the three of us organized and safe. It was the four of us growing up together.

We will see you again Roger.........in a better place.

Thank you Rick for reminding us of all these funny times. You made us laugh on a very sad day.

We also remembered the time that all of you moved our family from the apartment on Pleasant St. to Wells St. Chickie's truck's defroster was broken and they used a candle on the dashboard to attempt to clear the windshield. I think the truck's name was Bertha. Then Roger and Eddie were sitting at the kitchen table set up in the bed of the truck having a beer while Chickie drove down the street.

Roger had a party at Wells St. and Eddie and Roger were dancing up on our Mom's wooden bench and broke it.

Roger had a beach party in his first apartment when he moved out. He brought sand into the apartment and spread it all over the floor.......just... READ MORE →

Many early Moulin memories can never be forgotten…a small sample:
- a certain beloved red Chevy Monza, driven hard, held together by Ronnie’s in Rochdale with bailing wire and chewing gum…a car that would not die not matter how badly Roger abused it.
- taking the red Chevy Monza on a job interview together, then having to push it in the Ground Round parking lot while Roger popped the clutch….because it’s starter was dead….this gave new meaning to the words “poor but determined”
- working a 10 hour shift on a 90 degree day in the Ground Round kitchen, then a bunch of us trying to “quietly” swim in the pool at my parent’s house at 3am. Roger never did have much use of a “quiet voice”….invariably causing my Mom to whisper “Shut up Roger” out the open window
- Making trunk imprints in the giant Mall snowpiles with another Moulin classic vehicle, the rusty brown Malibu….somehow Roger thought this vehicle had 4 wheel drive…but alas, we got stuck frequently (more pushing on my part)
- Snapping the radio on to a random station and playing “Name that Tune”. Roger always beat me….always.
- The surgeon deftly applying the extraction apparatus to certain aluminum cylinders at parties where, shockingly, the only music played was by the The Who.
- Attempting to manage an unmanageable crowd of pickup league softball players at the former Charlton Industries.
- Calling me at 3am one morning from a payphone on Cambridge St, letting the phone ring approximately 100 times before I figured out it wasn’t a dream…to tell me he and Eddie had run out of gas on I-290 and to come pick them up. Then shimmying up the Poulini’s Bakery sign to abscond with the letter “R”.
- Falling asleep in the trunk of one of Roger’s cars while wiring in some new speakers….because I had the chicken pox and didn’t know it yet (hey…what are those bumps on your face?)
- Asleep in Eddie’s basement in front of the wood stove at 3am with the smoke alarms going off because the forgotten formerly frozen pizza had been in the oven for 90 minutes.
- The National Video years…concurrent with the Undercover years.
- Back when Hyundai was an upstart Korean automaker….and Roger was hard up for cash….he bought the most underpowered 4 cylinder car in the world, (Excel?) which he would drive on the Mass Pike in the left lane at 80 MPH (on the downhills at least), never following more than 10 feet behind the car in front of him and somehow make it back and forth to TJMaxx in one piece. Rumor was, it had a rope pull starter, however, this has not been confirmed…

But in the end, the reasons you really liked Roger was he was never too tired to drive someone home or pick someone up, never said no if you needed to swap a work shift or needed help moving, always had something funny to say to cheer you up, and he was a great listener. He could also somehow be irreverent, humble, thoughtful, and cynical…All at the same time.

Chef Rogé, the Piano Man, Forklift Driver extraordinaire, started out in a rather nomadic fashion with humble beginnings…but turned into the responsible, hard working, college graduate, loving husband and father, lifelong friend to many, and otherwise terrific guy as which we will remember him. Kirsten, Phoebe, and Molly…don’t let these strange ramblings alarm you…somehow these odd snapshots (plus many others) morphed into the man you know as a devoted husband and a doting and proud father. I am so glad Roger was a part of my life for so long. Know that you meant the world to him. This man with so many friends and a love for life has enriched us all, gone too soon, but he has left us with so many great memories and so many smiles.

Rick

Many early Moulin memories can never be forgotten…a small sample:
- a certain beloved red Chevy Monza, driven hard, held together by Ronnie’s in Rochdale with bailing wire and chewing gum…a car that would not die not matter how badly Roger abused it.
- taking the red Chevy Monza on a job interview together, then having to push it in the Ground Round parking lot while Roger popped the clutch….because it’s starter was dead….this gave new meaning to the words “poor but determined”
- working a 10 hour shift on a 90 degree day in the Ground Round kitchen, then a bunch of us trying to “quietly” swim in the pool at my parent’s house at 3am. Roger never did have much use of a “quiet voice”….invariably causing my Mom to whisper “Shut up Roger” out the open window
- Making trunk imprints in the giant Mall snowpiles with another Moulin classic vehicle,... READ MORE →