Roger Lee Briscoe, PhD, age 85, of Bernardsville, NJ passed away peacefully at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ on October 31, 2025.  

Roger was born in Spokane, Washington on March 1st, 1940, to parents Robert H. Briscoe and Laura Lee (Mohn) Briscoe, and was the oldest of five siblings.

During his undergraduate studies at the Washington State University, he served in the ROTC program. Following his graduation, he served for 6 years in the US Army where he attained the rank of Captain.  Following his time in the service, Roger attended Indiana University for his Ph.D. in music.  After several moves, he settled into a professorship at Raritan Valley Community College in Somerville, NJ where he taught for 25 years. Additionally, he was proud to be Music Director of the Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale during his years at RVCC.

Music was always the central theme in Roger’s life, and throughout his years he conducted many performances with various choirs, orchestras, bands and stage productions.  After his retirement, a highlight of his life was the 10 years he spent singing and touring with the Wolfson College Choir and Cambridge University Music Society.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Professor Linda Wicker, PhD, daughter Janna Briscoe Chao, MD, son Jeffrey Briscoe, daughter Judith Rebecca DeLuca, six grandchildren and many family members and friends.

Funeral Arrangments have been made private for the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to WQXR, a NY Public Radio Classical Music station that brought so much joy to Roger (https://pledge.wqxr.org/support/wqxr), or to the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center Inpatient Hospice & Palliative Care Group that provided the utmost level of care to Roger during his final days (https://www.f4mmc.org/donate-now/).