Of Kenmore, NY entered into rest May 20, 2026. Beloved husband of the late Carol (nee Selvaggio) Striker; Devoted father of David (Stephanie) Striker; Loving son of the late Roy and Beatrice Striker; Dear brother of the late Lillian Tobias; Also survived by many loving family and friends.

Note from David Striker, Roy's Son:

It is never the right time to lose a loved one, especially when there is a closeness like the one I shared with my dad. I will carry his love and unconditional support with me for the rest of my life, along with all of the incredible memories we built together-and with my mom, Carol, whom we both cherished so much.

Who was this man? As a father, he was everything you could ask for. Always present, always supportive, always rooting for my accomplishments and happiness more than he ever did for his own. I remember early 5:00 a.m. hockey practices where he would be the only one sitting in the rink watching. I remember countless Bills and Sabres games, and the traditions he and I built around them that became core memories and still bring a beaming smile to my face-despite our teams' fair share of heartbreaking losses.

As he got closer to the end, he often felt that he never did enough-that he could have given more, provided more, or shown up differently in certain situations. But the truth is, he gave me everything I needed. He, along with my mom, provided an example and foundation for how to be a good person: doing the right thing, treating people with respect, showing humility, loyalty, and grit. He always told me there was a difference between being a father and being a dad-a father is biological; a dad is a choice. He was a great dad. He was my first call when things were great, terrible, or somewhere in between.

His decline over the last several years meant he needed a lot of help. He felt guilty for needing it, always apologizing and showing so much gratitude for the assistance I gave him. But the truth is, it was a privilege to take care of someone who had sacrificed and provided so much for me.

My dad was from Buffalo and met my mom later in life. He was working as a photographer in Albany, something he genuinely enjoyed and was passionate about. He moved back home when he found out he was going to be a dad-a role he had not expected, but one he embraced completely. He drove a city bus for many years to support our family and make sure I always had the best sports equipment, could attend games, and enjoy my childhood. Later, he worked in customer service for the NFTA before retiring shortly after my mom's passing in 2015.

His health steadily declined over the last several years. Aside from living with a broken heart, he faced a long list of health challenges that left him in chronic pain, unable to drive, and barely able to get around enough to live independently. Most recently, he suffered a fall and fractured his hip, which ultimately proved to be something he could not recover from.

He spent his final days under Hospice care, comfortable and surrounded by me, my wife Stephanie, and others who loved him. We reassured him of the tremendous impact he had on our lives. I find peace in knowing he is no longer in pain and is running to my mom to tell her everything she missed over the last 11+ years. I can picture her asking what took him so long and reminding him that she's had a pot of sauce on the stove waiting for him all this time.

Love you, Papa Strike.

Relatives and friends may visit the Lombardo Funeral Home (Northtowns Chapel) 885 Niagara Falls Blvd. near Eggert/Sheridan Dr. Saturday from 1-4 PM. Flowers gratefully declined.