Born on May 20, 1973, in Nir Oz, Roee was the son of Ruth and Avraham, the brother of Keren, and the uncle of Ohad.
Roee, nicknamed Royo, was intelligent, witty and curious and had an exceptional memory. He welcomed the opportunity to meet new people, presenting himself without masks or pretenses, and was opinionated. Engaging in conversations with different people was his bridge to human connection.
Roee was sociable and open, devoted to giving and to forging human connections, a person for whom age played no role in his interactions with people.
When he loved something, he devoted himself to it wholeheartedly and put in a great deal of effort — sports, cinema and art, listening to music, attending live performances, and cycling and gardening. Another meaningful hobby was photography, and he documented every gathering, event, and experience he attended.
Royo always maintained a warm, deep and loving relationship with his family, shared experiences with his nephew Ohad, and cared for his parents.
Roee was a devoted and dominant fan of several sports teams: Maccabi Netanya in soccer, Maccabi Tel Aviv in basketball, and above all, the English soccer club Liverpool. Membership in the supporters’ club was deeply meaningful to him, giving him a sense of connection, interest, and belonging.
His fellow Liverpool devotees said of him: “He touched each and every one of us, and through knowing him, the verb ‘to munder’ was coined, meaning to turn even the smallest event into something meaningful and grand. That was how Roee lived — he grabbed every opportunity with both hands to meet people, learn and enjoy.”
Roee worked for many years as an electrician at the Nirlat factory and in the kibbutz. He acted with the community’s good in mind, upheld strict safety standards, and remained available even beyond regular working hours, driven by a sense of responsibility and a spirit of wholehearted giving.
In the final year of his life, he completed studies in communications networks and cloud technologies and was full of anticipation for a new beginning in this field. Everything was cut short in an instant.
On October 7, 2023, Roee was at his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Even amid those moments of terror, he sent messages and updates to groups of friends and posted on Facebook. His last post, in large letters, read:
“This is our Succot shame.”
Roee was murdered and found on the lawn in front of his home as it went up in flames, while his parents, sister and nephew were abducted to the Gaza Strip.
Roee was interred in Kibbutz Matzar without his immediate family present. Only after his father Avraham’s body was returned to Israel for burial was Roee laid to rest beside him in the Nir Oz cemetery.
Our Royo, a lover of people and a true friend, a kibbutznik whose soul wandered beyond the horizon.
Curious, multifaceted and colorful, a devoted fan with strong opinions.
You will never walk alone.
He was 50 years old when he was murdered.
May Roee’s memory be a blessing.
