Remembering Roger Glass: The legacy Dayton-area entrepreneur, philanthropist leaves behind

DAYTON — The City of Dayton has lost one of its icons— Roger Glass.

Glass was the president and CEO of Marion’s Piazza and was named “Daytonian of the Year” in 2019.

>> Dayton-area entrepreneur, philanthropist Roger Glass, 80, has died

He was 79-years-old when he passed away in hospice care Wednesday.

Glass was a staple in the community and has left an outstanding legacy behind.

Marion’s Piazza has nine locations across the Miami Valley, but its name has been featured in numerous articles and publications across the country.

Glass was the son of Marion Glass, who founded Marion’s in 1965. After his dad’s passing in 2006, he took over the business.

Erica Hubler, of Dayton, said Glass would always go above and beyond.

“They don’t even do deliveries but he would deliver to us,” Hubler said. “He would bring in, I don’t know, 10 pizzas by himself and all the pop and salads and he would come in and help me set everything up and make sure everything was great before he left. He was always just very very nice.”

His legacy isn’t just tied to his business. Glass is well known in the community for his charitable donations, including to the University of Dayton, his alma mater.

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He was the lead donor helping build the future “Roger Glass Center for the Arts.”

“He’s been very generous with his money with the community and made sure it stays here,” Hubler said.

He was also the main donor when Chaminade Julienne High School built its sports complex— choosing to name it “Roger Glass Stadium.”

“By Roger agreeing to have his name on the stadium he is saying to our current and future students ‘be a good person, make a good living and share your wealth with others,’” President of Chaminade Julienne High School Dan Meixner said.

He was also a 1960 Chaminade graduate and a member of the pep band.

“He really wanted our band and then by extension our student athletes to be able to have a home,” Meixner said.

Meixner said Glass was always a great friend to him.

“He was charismatic and the kind of person you really wanted to spend time with,” Meixner said.

He said he is proud to have Glass’s name forever be a part of the school.

“Anytime we talk about this place I’m going to have a smile on my face because I’m going to remember my friend Roger and I’m going to remember how important he was to me and us,” Meixner said.

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