Roger E. Seely

Roger E. Seely, age 73, longtime resident of Ithaca, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2026 at Rochester General Hospital, where he had been a patient for several weeks.

Roger was born in Trumansburg on April 23, 1952, the son of the late Keith and Viola (nee Saikkonen) Seely. Upon graduation from Ithaca High School in 1970, he married his sweetheart, Barbara Backner. Roger worked for 13 years at Kolar Machine Shop as a machinist and later worked at Cornell as an experimental nuclear machinist in Newman Lab for over 25 years, proudly making significant contributions to the Synchrotron Lab with his skills.

Roger’s hobby was always in the woods where he cut firewood and did logging in the Arnot Forrest on Connecticut Hill, for Cotton-Hanlon in Alpine, and also cut and delivered firewood throughout the area while taking pride in maintaining the integrity and heritage of the forest.

Roger was a terrific man of integrity a supportive husband and father, beloved grandfather and adored his pups.

Roger is survived by his wife of 55 years, Barbara; his children, Julie (JR) Rought of Ovid, and Clint Seely of Spencer; his grandchildren, Brennen and Lydia Richardson and Alisabeth Seely; and a brother, David (Babs) Seely of Groveland. In accordance with his wishes, services and a life celebration will be held privately by his family.