More in info:
For the record the photo of Roberts, Donald S. Scherer, and Robert Lazarus appeared in the NYT article,
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/21/politics/politicsspecial1/21harvard.html?pagewanted=all
From NYT article
Mr. Lazarus, who roomed with Mr. Roberts in Washington for three years after graduation, said: “John was politically conservative. He was comfortable with it, but it didn’t define his friendships. He was very thoughtful, very open talking about ideas. For some people, it’s really a defining characteristic of how they define their lives. That just wasn’t the case back then.”
Lazarus roomed with Roberts at Harvard as well as in Wash DC for three years after graduation. Passing out of Harvard Law in 1979 that places them living together until 1982 or there abouts, proximate to the time of the photo at Martha’s Vineyard.
Don Scherer. ( Donald S. Scherer), the third man in the Martha’s Vineyard photo “sometimes in the 80’s” was provide by Don Scherer. Quick google “harvard Don Scherer” seems to indicates he’s in San Francisco and might have a Facebook page.
These little historical details, though, don't exactly offer any evidence of normalcy. I ran across a post several days ago saying that Roberts' summer trips to Malta are an annual routine. It was just a random post so I didn't think anything of it or care to verify it. But now noticing his "old roommate" is in the picture (literally and figuratively)... ?
Makes one wonder if just before this trip, Roberts was shown photos of previous adventures on Malta. Or maybe he was shown a nice gift that might be sent to his kids, a book called "Daddy's Roommate", pics included.
*Something* sure made this guy jump the shark.