Roger Elphege Vandal, 91, of Dennis, MA, and formerly of Blackstone, MA died on Tuesday February 14, 2023. Born in Blackstone then raised and educated in Woonsocket, RI along with 4 older sisters, Roger was the son of parents Elphege Rodrick Vandal and Virginia Valerie (Sorel) Vandal.

He graduated from Woonsocket Sr High School in 1950, then 2 years later he married his loving wife Jeannine Irene (Gaulin) Vandal. Having a mischievous sense of humor, he often joked that he received his wife for his 21st birthday. Together they soon started their family raising 2 children in Blackstone. They were married for almost 67 years before her passing in 2019. The last 5 of her life of which he cared for her in their home.

Roger started work as a machinist and draftsman at area machine shops before continuing his education at night to study mechanical engineering at Worcester Jr College where he graduated with an Associates Degree in 1971. He then worked as a mechanical engineer at Draper Mfg in Hopedale and Dennison Mfg in Framingham to name a few. Always a hard worker and a man who could repair anything, Roger was also running Vandal Radio & TV Repair out of his basement at night in those early years.

Roger enjoyed the outdoors. He loved to hunt and fish. The young family enjoyed camping and snowmobiling in New England. This led to summers spent beach buggying and salt water fishing on Nauset Beach for many years, which eventually led to a small boat and buying a weekend home in the 1970s. In 1995, finally retired, Roger and his wife moved full time to their Dennis home.

However, never one to truly just sit and relax, Roger started his dream job. In true engineering fashion, and having owned several boats over the years, he designed and had his “perfect” fishing / lobster vessel custom built in Maine. After decades of taking friends out for fishing trips, he now obtained his Captains license and started LAD-NAV Sportfishing out of Sesuit Harbor. Having spent some years on crutches as a child, he was very proud of the fact his boat was wheelchair accessible, making it easier for everyone to enjoy a day out on the water. Roger loved to teach people to fish, especially children. Occasionally if time allowed, he would also demonstrate how lobsters are trapped and harvested from the sea as he tended to his private lobster traps.

Roger is survived by a son, Ronald R. Vandal and his wife, Eileen Hebert of Blackstone; a daughter, Joanne G. Masury and her husband, Scott of Oxford; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and his wife, Roger is predeceased by his 4 sisters; Helen Gauthier, Dolores Lamoureux, Yolande Jalette, and Claire Marie Blanchard all with connections to RI and FL.

Funeral services will be private.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

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