IN MEMORY OF ROGER ARMBRUST

The man, the myth, the legend, Roger Armbrust, unexpectedly died at home recently (official DOD is 12/14; Catherine believes it was actually 12/12). He was the beloved father of Catherine Armbrust, one of the founders of COMO Mobile Aid Collective, and one of her biggest cheerleaders. In lieu of flowers to honor Roger, Catherine asks that you donate to COMO Mobile Aid--Roger loved buying lottery tickets and always said when he won the lottery he'd fully fund this non-profit. 

COMO Mobile Aid Collective is dedicated to providing Columbia, Missouri’s citizens experiencing homelessness with resources, care, and respect. We partner with community volunteers and other organizations to provide meals, water, survival supplies, hygiene items, basic medical care, pet care, advocacy, and more. Our work is ever-evolving as we attempt to fill the local service gaps and ease the suffering of others through direct and timely aid. 

Roger was born to Wilbur and Frances Armbrust in Little Rock, AR on July 25, 1943. He leaves behind his amazing daughter, Catherine Armbrust of Columbia, Missouri, his beloved brother Dr. Frank Armbrust & loving sister-in-lay Kay Armbrust of Yuba City, CA, many nieces & nephews, followers of his poetry blog, The Sonneteer, and many mentees in the COSMO AA group. Roger grew up in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Little Rock and attended Catholic High School for Boys, where he made friendships that have endured. Roger played intercollegiate basketball for UALR and Arkansas State University. From that experience he developed a deep resentment towards Harrison, AR, which became an ongoing joke between him and Catherine. 

After graduation, Roger wrote sports & political news for Little Rock newspapers before joining the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce in public relations. 

Roger was an author, editor, journalist, and blogger. During the 1970s and 80s, he lived in New York City, where he served as national news editor of Backstage Magazine and taught writing at New York University in the evenings. His poetry and novels were published by Parkhurst Brothers Publishers and distributed nationally. He was actively writing until the day he died...