WASHINGTON — Buddy Roogow, the director of the DC Lottery since 2009, died Saturday after suffering an aneurysm. He was pronounced dead at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Roogow was 65.
“It is with great sadness that I announce that Buddy Roogow, director of the DC Lottery since 2009, passed away on Saturday morning, April 11, after spending Friday evening with family and friends. He was 65 years old. Buddy loved what he did and he was the Lottery’s foremost champion. He was a consummate professional, dedicated to making DC’s the best Lottery in the country and worked hard every day to achieve that goal. I had the honor of working closely with him over the past year. Buddy was a wonderful colleague and to many of us here, a great friend. We will miss his warmth, enthusiasm, energy and humor. We will keep his family and all of those who loved him in our hearts and prayers,” said Jeffrey S. DeWitt, Chief Financial Officer District of Columbia., in a released statement.
Roogow was named the DC Lottery Executive Director in December 2009, bringing over 13 years of lottery experience to the DC Lottery. Roogow started in the lottery industry when he was named Maryland Lottery Director in October 1996. Under his leadership there, Maryland enjoyed 12 consecutive years of record-breaking sales.
