BJ Controller Roger Messmore retires

Roger Messmore

Roger Messmore, BJ Controller who handled Ol’ Blue’s Finance Department under various names and titles for 32 years, is retiring today.

Cheryl Scott Sheinin, the wife of former BJer Neil Sheinin and retired from the Finance Department after 45 years,  posted:

“After 34 years of managing the Finance Department he will be leaving the Beacon to pursue his love of reading, traveling with his wife and caring for their various breeds of dogs.

“We are not calling this day a party day; it is a memorial day. Roger will be greatly missed at the Beacon. He is one of the last loved and respected senior managers to represent his people and the Beacon Journal.

“We wish the best of luck to you, Roger. Never forget us. We will never forget you.”

I was involved with Roger when the late David White and I filed the successful healthcare lawsuit against the Beacon. Roger was classy in all the dealings with us, even though it was an adversarial situation.

And fair with his calculations about how much reimbursement the BJ owed each of us after we won the lawsuit that cost David Black millions, whether you calculated it in Canadian or U.S. dollars.

When BJ retirees got a letter about the pension not being "fully funded," I called Roger and told him I needed the facts to calm the waters. He obliged, patiently and thoroughly. You read his response on this blog. 

His only management comment: "Just remember that we're being good to you." That's as JSK as you can get.

Congratulations, Roger. 

If every BJ management person were like you and John Knight, it would have been like working in Heaven.

Enjoy your retirement! You earned it.