[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 51 (Thursday, March 18, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1658-S1659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING ROGER SOFER

  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, on another matter, nearly 20 years ago, 
I took my first trip to Israel. I had a good stroke of fortune: I met a 
brilliant, hilarious, opinionated, larger-than-life man named Roger 
Sofer. Roger was simply unlike anyone I had ever met before or anyone I 
have met since. He could captivate a room with anything from a serious 
discussion of national security and Israel-U.S. policies, to stories 
from his childhood, to jokes that, well, probably shouldn't be repeated 
here on the Senate floor.
  Roger cared deeply about his family, his Jewish faith, and the many 
friends he earned throughout his life. I consider myself fortunate to 
be among those friends, and I would like just to share a few words 
about my friend Roger, who passed away last week.
  As the old saying goes in my State, Roger wasn't born in Texas, but 
he got there as fast as he could. The incredible story of his life 
began in Queens, NY. It led him to the University of Tampa on a 
baseball scholarship as a left-handed pitcher and then to Fort Dix with 
the Army. He then went back to Florida, where he worked as a cabdriver, 
home to New York as a sales representative, and then finally to 
Houston, TX, where he lived when he and I met.
  Clearly, young Roger was an enterprising guy. He understood the value 
of hard work, and even more importantly, he learned about the value of 
relationships. Roger and his friend Dan Steiner started their own 
financial planning and insurance firm and quickly found success.
  Roger truly cared about everyone he worked with--his clients, his 
employees, and their families.
  That personal attention translated into a thriving business and a lot 
of rewards in recognition to go along with it. But Roger never let work 
consume his entire life or take away from the people and causes he 
cared most about.
  Roger grew up in a religious home and inherited a deep appreciation 
of his Jewish faith. His father Hyman was his hero and instilled in him 
a love of our country, as well as a love of Israel. Hyman would say, 
``Don't worry about business, Roger, because if there's no Israel, 
there will be no business.'' That thought stuck. Throughout his life, 
Roger fought to secure a brighter future for our friends and allies in 
Israel.
  In the 1980s, Melvin Dow and Stanford Alexander, two giants in the 
AIPAC community--the American Israel Public Affairs Committee--asked 
Roger to help grow the pro-Israel committee in Houston. Well, I know 
Roger never did anything halfway; he poured his heart and his soul into 
outreach efforts. When you have somebody as outgoing, passionate, and 
likable as Roger, you are bound to get results.
  Roger's work in Houston was so successful that in 2002 he was asked 
to serve on AIPAC's National Board, a position he would hold for nearly 
two

[[Page S1659]]

decades. Lucky for me, that is how Roger and I ended up on the same 
trip to Israel in March of 2002. We visited Israel during the Second 
Intifada, a time of serious violence and unrest. Little did I know at 
the time I wouldn't just look to Roger for insight during our trip; he 
would become a trusted friend and source of advice over the next two 
decades.
  Make no mistake, I wasn't the only one who learned from Roger. As a 
member of AIPAC's National Board, he would make almost monthly trips to 
Washington, DC--often with a group of Texans--to advocate for a strong 
future and a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.
  Teddy Roosevelt once said, ``Nobody cares how much you know until 
they know how much you care.'' It only took a few words to realize how 
much Roger knew because you also saw how much he cared. He cared deeply 
about Israel, its people, and its success, and became a respected voice 
on the importance of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. He didn't care 
if you were a Democrat or a Republican--if you were willing to listen, 
he was happy to talk. But meetings with Roger weren't limited to 
conversations about the Middle East or ongoing political tensions; in 
typical fashion, he peppered every conversation with a lot of fun too.
  It wasn't uncommon for Roger to walk into a meeting with a Senator or 
a Congressman and show them pictures of his beloved dog, Ginger. It was 
even less surprising for that person to ask Roger the next time that 
they saw him, ``So, Roger, how is Ginger doing?'' He was a big animal 
lover, and along with dogs, his other great love, interestingly enough, 
was horses. He loved the animals themselves, as well as the atmosphere 
and energy at horse tracks. He was such a great handicapper that Rice 
University sent a statistics class with him to a horse track just so 
they could see how he did it.
  Last year, just days after being diagnosed with a rare form of 
leukemia, Roger was able to witness the moment every horse enthusiast 
dreams about. A horse he co-owned named Tiz the Law qualified for the 
Kentucky Derby. That horse would go on to win the Belmont Stakes and 
place second in the Run for the Roses--one of Roger's proudest 
accomplishments.
  Yes, Roger was a man of many talents: a left-handed pitcher, an 
expert handicapper, an amateur comedian, a skilled storyteller, and an 
effective advocate. Above all, though, Roger's greatest skill was his 
ability to live fully and authentically. He valued his relationships 
above all else, and he could turn a complete stranger into a friend 
with just a few words. I believe our friendship was proof of that.
  Sadly, I, along with my wife Sandy, send condolences to Roger's 
beloved family, including his wife Linden; his children, Nicole, Scott, 
Jennifer, and Rebecca; as well as his grandchildren, Elizabeth, Sam, 
and Beau.
  Roger lived an extraordinary life, and he leaves behind an 
unforgettable legacy. I am grateful to have known this man.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________