Rodger M. Carey

Rodger M. Carey

March 31, 1947 – June 26, 2024

Family, friends and colleagues often described Rodger Carey as a modern-day Renaissance Man. In addition to being an accomplished musician and chef, he was a passionate life-long learner. Rodger was a well-respected criminal defense attorney, and above all a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Rodger, the oldest of three boys, was born in Miami, Florida on March 31, 1947, to Pleasant and Edith (nee Glassner) Carey. The family briefly followed his father’s career as a pilot with Pan Am Airlines to Bermuda, later settling in Hempstead, NY where his father was based at the newly opened Idlewild Airport (now JFK). These were the heady years of American aviation as Pan Am was the first American carrier to offer jet service.

Rodger’s love of music had humble roots, beginning with the gift of a ukelele from his grandparents. His mother, a lifelong lover of music, set up his first music lessons telling him that if he was going to accept the gift, he had to learn to play it. The lessons and hard practice paid off when Rodger later earned his way playing guitar professionally.

At Hempstead High School, Rodger participated in choir and excelled in baseball and football. Outside of school, he was found in the waters off Long Island with his friend Dennis Fuchs, enjoying the growing popularity of longboard surfing. After attending Baldwin Wallace College, Rodger chose to be proactive when facing the military draft and enlisted in the Unites States Air Force where he served as an intelligence analyst at the National Security Agency, Ft. Meade, Maryland. Following honorable discharge, an Air Force buddy convinced him to tie his surfboard to the top of his car and head west to the beaches of Orange County, CA. Family legend has it that upon experiencing his first surf in California he called his mother and asked her to ship him his belongings.

Rodger found work performing at the Ancient Mariner, Wind and Sea and the Capistrano Depot with lifelong friend, Burt Leyva. He completed his undergraduate education at UCI and graduated from Western State College of Law in 1978. He was known to joke that he became an attorney to support his passions for music, cooking and time with his beloved wife Deanne and family.

Rodger and Deanne were married in 1989, and soon became a warm and welcoming team, graciously making friends, inviting them into their home to enjoy Deanne’s gift for styling settings and Rodger’s talents as a chef and musician. They were active participants in their children’s activities, often befriending the parents of their children’s friends. Deanne and Rodger have been active members of Trinity Presbyterian Church, where Rodger served as an elder, high school counselor and participated in the music ministry for decades.

From 1978 to 1991, Rodger was an associate at three of the top criminal defense firms in Orange County. In 1991, he began his own criminal defense practice. He has been a Judge Pro Tempore in every court in Orange County, including Superior Court and Juvenile Court. He is a past president of the Orange County Bar Foundation, and in 1997 was named the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer of the Year.

In recent years, Rodger lost his eyesight. Never one for self-pity, Rodger turned to audio recordings and podcasts as he continued his passion for learning and being informed. A gifted conversationalist, while he had personal political opinions, he understood the art of agreeing to disagree while he carefully listened to other’s points of view. He was dignified and at the same time, kind and inclusive of others.

Rodger is survived by his wife Deanne, sons Ryan (Kortnee), Brett (Sharlene) and daughter Courtney (Ryon) Healy and grandchildren Noah, Ryder, Saray, Jada, Demarcus, Thomas, Colette and Hudson. He is also survived by his brothers Forrest (aka Barkey) and David (Bonnie).

A Celebration of Life will be held on September 20 at 2 p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 13922 Prospect Avenue, North Tustin, CA. A reception will follow in Fellowship Hall.