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Vivian J. Roller Endowment Fund |
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August 21, 2010 David was the eldest son of Vivian Roller who died in a Kahoka, MO. nursing home as a result of elderly abuse and neglect in 2000. Upon her death her 13 children established the Roller Family Endowment in her honor with the goal of improving the quality of care and the quality of life for residents in long term care facilities and the disabled. The Roller Endowment became a part of MCQC in 2002. David and other family members, working with MCQC, have established a grant and award program to fulfill their mission. To date, three grants have been given since the inception of the program and thirteen cash awards have benefited students from the Eta Sigma Gamma Science Honorary of Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. Others have also been recognized for their service to the elderly. David was born July 21, 1937, in
Davenport, Iowa, the son of Francis and Vivian Berrie
Kephart. He married Jacqualyn Goldsberry on Nov. 8, 1964, at
the Presbyterian Church in Kahoka, Mo. David graduated from
Revere High School, Revere, Mo., in 1955 and enlisted in the
Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1959. During his
married life, he attended the University of Arizona,
graduating with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer
science, and completed his doctorate at the University of
Kentucky. He taught at Chadron College in Chadron, Neb.;
Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky.; and Illinois
State University in Normal, where he was actively involved
in many parallel duties including the co-operative education
program run by the applied computer science department. This
program afforded many valuable contacts and experiences for
the future of the student. He retired as a professor from
Illinois State University in 1998 after 18 years teaching in
the applied computer science department. He received many awards and
accomplishments during his lifetime. Some included awards
from the Data Processing Management Association and Society
Advancement Management. The accomplishments of his students
gave him a great source of pride and satisfaction. After retirement, he helped establish the
Vivian Jane Roller Endowment Fund and its association with
Missouri Coalition for Quality Care. He also trained for and
attained the ombudsman title. He was assigned to monitor
nursing homes in the Bloomington-Normal area as a nursing
home patient advocate. His goal was to serve and protect our
“golden” citizens, the seniors. He really enjoyed traveling with his wife,
fishing and being around his children and grandchildren. He
took the time to listen and mentored many lives about the
power of a quality education to achieve knowledge for
getting through everyday life with your head held high. Let us give back to those who have given us so much by ensuring that their
golden years are some of their best years. Vivian J. Roller Family Endowment
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