Roy’s Obituary Roy William Mayer, age 90, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home and surrounded by his loving family as he entered his heavenly home on April 8, 2019. Roy was born in Troy, IL to Albert and Agnes (Schlemer) Mayer on September 13, 1928. After High School he served in the Peace Corps in Peru for 9 years, where he taught Industrial Arts.
He then attended University of Dayton where he received a Bachelor of Science in Education, and went on to receive a Master of Arts in HIstory and English from Saint Louis University. He taught at the college level in San Antonio, TX, then in Chicago, IL where he met the love of his life, Victoria (Campbell) Mayer, who became his his devoted wife and companion for over 51 years. Although Roy and Vicky met in Chicago, they moved to Rockford, IL to start their family and quickly became very involved members of their community.
They raised two daughters, Maria and Gloria. They are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren: Sean Mayer, Troy Emerson, Victoria Emerson, Maya Jacques, Jimmy Jacques, Vin Jacques and Jolie Jacques. In Rockford, Roy taught Social Science and English at Morris Kennedy and Flynn Middle Schools for 28 years until his retirement.
In his spare time, Roy, along with Vicky and their daughters enjoyed a number of activities. They took great pride in farming and sharing that love of growing food and raising animals with their extended family and friends. In addition to tending to the farm, Roy and his family also maintained rental properties.
Because of his love of theater, Roy also spent many summers participating with his family in numerous plays and musical productions in the Greater Rockford area. They also enjoyed attending productions as season ticket holders of Rockford & Byron theatres. Roy was also a world traveller, and spent many summers taking his family on countless road trips (in that 1978 orange VW camper) to every corner of the United States, as well as trips to Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Australia and New Zealand, etc.
For years, Roy and Vicky also chaperoned student tours to countries around the world. Roy was a devout Catholic, grounded in his faith and strong moral tenets. He was an active member of the Catholic church since being a CCD teacher when his daughters were young, to singing in the choir, to consulting and helping organize parish activities.
He also taught English to members of the community at Saint Elizabeth Center. This commitment to community was part of a deeper commitment Roy had to serve and help others in need. He would be seen in his red pickup truck giving out food and rides to to those who needed them, and part of his legacy as a farmer was that much of the food raised on their 17 acre farm was,and still is, donated to the food pantry.
Another passionate commitment to serve of Roy’s was to defend the rights of the disenfranchised. He spent many years as chairman of Rockford’s chapter of the CNO. He wrote letters, spoke with local and state community leaders, and even marched in Springfield to promote fair treatment for minorities.
On any given day, you would hear Roy quoting either the Serenity Prayer (God grant me the Serenity…”) or the Sermon On the Mount (“What you do to the least of my brothers…”); they were the true foundations that he lived by. Roy is preceded by his parents Albert and Agnes Mayer and his brother, Leon (Buddy) Mayer. He is survived by his wife Victoria (Campbell) Mayer, his daughters Maria Mayer and Gloria Jacques (Joseph), his grandchildren, Sean Mayer, Troy Emerson, Tori Emerson, Maya Jacques, James Jacques, Vincent Jacques and Jolie Jacques.
He is also survived by his siblings Beatrice Schneider, Helen Bower and Robert Mayer and countless loving nephews and nieces. Funeral arrangements are being organized by Gasparini and Oliveri Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Visitation and mass for Roy to be held at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church at 201 Buckbee St, Rockford, IL 61104.
Visitation at 10:00 am, with Mass at 11:00am. Following the burial at Cedar Bluff Cemetery, there will be a social gathering at the St. Stanislaus Church Hall. Expressions of sympathy and memories may be shared on Roy’s tribute page at www.
gasparinioliverifuneral.net.
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