Roger E. Tetrault

Roger E. Tetrault was born September 3, 1941, in Hartford Connecticut, the second of six sons of Hector and Bella Tetrault. He passed away suddenly on Monday, January 27, 2020.  Roger was a standout wrestler in the 1959 class of Huntington High School on Long Island, New York. He transitioned to gymnastics while attending the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, from which he graduated in 1963. Earning his aviator wings in 1965, he subsequently served as a pilot as well as Surface Warfare Officer during his two tours in Vietnam. In 1976 he earned an MBA from Lynchburg College. Roger retired in 2000 as CEO and Chairman of the Board of McDermott International, one of the world’s largest offshore oil exploration and construction companies. Before his tenure with McDermott, he was a senior executive officer with the international defense contractor General Dynamics restructuring several critical divisions. As Senior Vice-President of Land Systems Division, he was involved in the design and manufacturing of diverse armored vehicles for the US Armed Forces and foreign allies. When first hired by General Dynamics, he served as President of Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, the premier nuclear submarine designer, and shipbuilder. Tetrault also played a major role in the development of the next generation naval nuclear reactors designed to last the life of the ship. This technology continues to save the Navy billions of dollars each year. Roger Tetrault served on over twenty commercial and charitable boards. He was inducted into the Lynchburg College, Business and Economic Hall of Fame in 1998. Heidrick & Struggles named him one of the top ten CEOs in the United States. The U.S. Army Armor Association inducted him in 1996 as a Distinguished Knight in the Order of St. George. In 2005, Roger was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal for his involvement in the International Space Station’s Independent Management and Cost Evaluation Task Force and his service on the NASA Advisory Council. He was one of 12 board members that investigated the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. He was on the National Research Council’s committee that extended the operation of the Hubble Telescope. In 2013, the U. S. Naval Academy selected Captain Tetrault from over forty thousand living alumni as the 55th Distinguished Graduate, an honor he cherished. His strong belief in empowering Midshipmen to make courageous ethical decisions prompted Roger and wife Linda to establish the Naval Academy Ethics Leadership Chair which evolved into the Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership. He was inducted as the tenth Wall of Warriors honoree by the Military Heritage Museum in Punta Gorda in 2018.  In retirement, Roger and Linda created the Peace River Botanical and Sculpture Garden as a unique treasure for the Punta Gorda community and region. They opened publicly in 2017. Roger and Linda acquired and commissioned the gardens’ whimsical sculptures during their international travels. The nearly 30 acres of gardens are designed to preserve the natural environment and mangrove marshes unique to the Peace River. Roger and Linda worked tirelessly to develop this extraordinary site and have provided for its significant future growth with an ambitious master plan.   Roger is survived by Linda, his adoring wife of thirty years. He left behind two sons Stephen and wife Ani Tetrault and Michael Tetrault, as well as one daughter Danielle and husband Allen Gooch, and their children, William and Catherine Gooch. He is also survived by his five brothers Leonard, Raymond, Alfred, Paul, Richard, and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of Roger’s life will be held on Monday, February 17, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, 5827 Riverside Drive, Punta Gorda. A remembrance ceremony will begin at 1:30. Please omit flowers in favor of memorial gifts to his beloved Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, Inc., 5800 Riverside Drive, Punta Gorda, FL 33982 or by visiting the website https://peacerivergardens.org/roger-tetrault/. To express condolences to the family and share in celebrating the life of Roger, please visit www.JohnsonTaylorFuneral.com and sign the online guestbook.  Arrangements are by Johnson Taylor Funeral and Cremation.