Douglas M. Roberts

Douglas Matthew Roberts, lovingly known as Doug, passed away on June 1, 2026, at the age of 75, surrounded by the love of family after a long battle with respiratory illness attributed to his exposure at the scenes of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City.

Doug grew up in Dover, New Jersey, later settled in Toms River near his mom and sister, before life and love brought him to South Jersey. After meeting the love of his life, Marjorie "Marj" Roberts - nee Hunter - whom he married in April of 2001. Doug happily followed Marj's path to Ocean City, Marmora, and eventually Erial, New Jersey, where they built a life together filled with family, laughter, loyalty, and love for the last 25 years.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 25 years, Marjorie "Marj" Roberts; his devoted stepdaughters, Lona O'Neill (Bill O'Neill), Marla Haines (Jimmy Haines), Janna Manger (Pete Manger), and MikaLyn "Mikie" Adamczyk (Bill Adamczyk); his cherished grandchildren, Vee Jones, Lucia Jones, Carey Jones, Austin O'Neill, Ali O'Neill, Natalie Haines, Charlotte Haines, Harper Haines, Hayden Haines, Ava Manger, Pete Manger, Jack Adamczyk, Maddie Adamczyk, and Mason Adamczyk; and great-grandson Riley O'Neill, all of whom brought immeasurable pride and joy to his life. Doug was predeceased by his beloved parents and his sister, Robyn Woodfield.

Doug proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for over 20 years, retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant. Throughout his military career, he commanded troops and served in locations including the Panama Canal Zone, Alaska, Germany, Washington State, Texas, and Mississippi. Service, duty, and commitment were values that guided Doug throughout his life.

Following his military retirement, Doug continued a life of public service through a second career with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where he worked from 1998 to 2017. Doug dedicated much of his professional life to reviewing and awarding grants and took pride in helping others succeed, generously sharing his knowledge and wisdom with those around him.

Doug was also a survivor of the September 11th tragedy, having escaped from a neighboring building in New York City on that unforgettable day. Though he never returned to New York after 9/11, the experience profoundly shaped the rest of his life and ultimately contributed to the health challenges he courageously faced.

To know Doug was to know someone who showed up. He showed up for family, for fellow veterans, and especially for his grandchildren. Whether it was a dance recital, softball tournament, theater performance, graduation, baseball game, birthday celebration, or simply an ice cream truck visit, Doug wanted to be there. Even during difficult health battles, there was little that could stop him from cheering from the sidelines, saluting at veterans' ceremonies, or proudly supporting the people he loved.

Doug had a wonderfully dry sense of humor and a gift for making people laugh in the middle of life's hardest moments. He never met an animal he didn't love and was happiest, surrounded by the sounds of barking dogs, meowing cats, and the joyful chaos of family. He especially loved caring for family pets, proudly sending photo updates and making sure everyone knew they were safe, spoiled, and loved.

Doug will be remembered for his unwavering loyalty, quiet strength, dry wit, deep love for his family, steadfast devotion to his country, and his refusal to stop showing up for the people he loved.

Family and friends are invited to Doug's visitation on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, with a funeral service beginning at 11:00 am at LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home & Crematory, 441 White Horse Pike, Atco, NJ 08004. Followed by military honors and burial at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 350 Province Line Rd, Wrightstown, NJ 08562.

To Honor Doug's love of travel with Marj, his request is that those attending services wear brightly colored Hawaiian luau attire (no coconut bras or grass skirts permitted).

In Lieu of Flowers, please donate to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in honor of his stepdaughter MikaLyn Adamyck. Doug and Marj spent days upon days at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as they watched their young child MikaLyn battle cancer. The time spent with nurses, doctors and family praying for a miracle for her life, made him eternally grateful to celebrate her life. A donation to Children's Hospital will give a beautiful gift of hope to families struggling with life threatening illness that they may see the same light and miracle that Doug witnessed.

https://chop.donordrive.com/campaigns/Doug-Roberts-Memorial-Fund