ROCHE, JOHN J., 82 passed away on September 29, 2012. He was born March 6, 1930 and raised in Boston, MA. He was called to active duty during the Korean War, serving in the US Navy, First Active Reserve Squadron, assigned to VF916 squadron, GAG 8 on the Roosevelt Carrier. In 1956 John graduated from the University of Miami and remained an active member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity for 50 years. His wife of 49 years, Roseanne, preceded him in death in 2005. John is survived by his daughter Karen Mears and her husband Donald Mears; his sons Mark and his wife, Liana, Martin and Brian. John also had 5 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren and was affectionately called Pop-Pop. He worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 12 years, then went on to real estate investments and insurance for 25 years. Retired and bored John went back to teaching and taught school for ten years at Arvida Middle School. In 2000 he and Roseanne retired and moved to Longboat Key in Sarasota, FL. In 2008 John moved to Lake Mary to be near his daughter. He was an active member of the Churches he attended and Chai solo, the Knights of Columbus, and the VFW. He cherished his family and friends, "without them you had nothing". In lieu of flowers please make donations to Our Daily Bread of Bradenton FL, PO Box 9544, Bradenton, FL 34206-9544. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, Oct 13 at 10:00AM at Church of the Nativity, 3255 N. Ronald Reagan Blvd, Longwood, FL. Arrangements under the direction of Tri-County Cremation and Funeral Home, Longwood Fl.
Published in Miami Herald on October 8, 2012
