Tara Cavanaugh
Roger Reisdorf
May 30, 1949 – Nov. 21, 2010
Roger Reisdorf, a renowned activist in the LGBT community, died Nov. 21 after battling colon cancer for three years. He was 51.
Reisdorf was heavily involved with Affirmations Community Center in Ferndale. He volunteered, served on the board of directors, helped raise more than $5 million needed to open the new center in 2007, and also helped create a $500,000 endowment. The center honored Reisdorf with the Jan Stevenson Award for commitment and dedication in 2006, and the Chuck Moyer Philanthropic Award in 2010.
Kat LaTosche, the chief administrations officer at Affirmations, knew Reisdorf for five years. "He was a very kind, gentle person," she said, "one of those people who was always behind the scenes, a quiet understated guy."
Even after being diagnosed with cancer, "He never missed a meeting," LaTosche said. "He was always at the fundraising events and extra center gatherings and doing what he said he would do."
In addition to his work for Affirmations, Reisdorf contributed to many other organizations. He was dedicated to his faith as a reader at the First Church of Christ Scientist in Plymouth. He was a member of the President's Club at Ferris State University until his death.
Reisdorf, who had a B.S. in public administration from Ferris, also worked for the Wyatt Corporation and Granderview Nursing Home.
Later in his life, Reisdorf served as V.P. with McWilliams Credit Reports in charge of operations. For the last five years, he worked as the executive assistant to the director of the Detroit Transportation Corporation.
Reisdorf is survived by two brothers, Robin and Christopher Reisdorf, and special friends Stephen Ross, Donn Tufts, and Michael Sawdy.
Memorials are encouraged to the St. Joseph Mercy Health System Oncology Department in Ann Arbor, Affirmations in Ferndale, or First Church of Christ Scientist in Plymouth.
