The Upper Valley Haven
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Haven Stories
Volunteers & Donors
Roger Tatro
Several days a week for the last eight years, Roger Tatro has traveled to nursing homes and senior centers throughout the Greater Upper Valley to sing and play the guitar for many of the sick and elderly in the community. His charming charisma lights up the room, inspiring oftentimes frail men and women to dance and sing along. On days Roger is coming to perform, senior centers prepare extra food because they expect a larger crowd. Three years ago, he began donating 100% of his earnings from the performances to The Haven, quickly making Roger one of The Haven’s major donors.
“Everybody has a talent that God has given them. We should use that gift by giving it back to others.”
“I’ve always been an advocate for the poor,” says Roger. “Who knows, someday I could be in that position.” Ten years ago, says Roger, he would have never predicted he’d be doing what he is doing now. At the age of 56, Roger was the Vice President of A.D. Davis Financial Services and lived in Lancaster, Vermont in a log home on 10 acres of land with his wife. Suddenly, while on stage with the country band he played with every weekend, Roger had a massive heart attack. Slim and living a healthy lifestyle, Roger and his family were shocked. After some recovery time, Roger went back to work. He had suffered some memory loss and could no longer do work around the yard, a hobby he loved dearly. Two years later, Roger had another attack and his doctors told him he had to stop working. He and his wife decided to move south to the Upper Valley, to be closer to Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital. “It was a big change,” says Roger.
Now, Roger brightens the lives of so many seniors living in the Upper Valley, while also helping those struggling with poverty through his financial support of The Haven. “Everybody has a talent that God has given them. We should use that gift by giving it back to others.”