Leonard Alton "Len" Roe

ROE, Leonard Alton "Len" Age 78, died Wednesday, Sept 22, at home in Tavernier, FL from Multiple Systems Atrophy, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Born Oct. 23, 1931 in Oklahoma City, OK to Glenn & Mary Roe, an only child raised in Lawton, OK, he received his B.A. in History at Oklahoma City Univ., and his Masters in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. Len met Patricia Smith in the summer of 1954 while working a summer job singing in a quartet at Buck Hill Resort in Canadensis, PA where they married on Nov. 12, 1954. Their first two children were born while Len was still in school, Gregory G. Roe born June 17, 1956 in Princeton and Jeffery D. Roe born Aug. 8, 1957 in Plainfield. Upon receiving his M. Div they moved to Cordell, OK where he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church. While in Cordell, his daughters, Teresa L. Roe July 26, 1958 & Lisa V. Roe, Dec. 16, 1959 were born. Len's career eventually led him to the First Presbyterian Church on Davis Island, Tampa, in 1962. He left the ministry in 1965 and joined the James L. Erb Northwestern Mutual Life Agency. During this time he earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) from the American College, the world's most respected life insurance designation. He remained there until 1974 when he & colleague William (Bill) Armistead purchased the Shorter Insurance Agency in New Port Richey, and renamed it Armistead-Roe Insurance. Len's son Gregory joined the agency in 1980, and in 1982 Len bought out Armistead and renamed the agency to Roe Insurance. Len was very active in his community serving as a Board Member for the Pasco County Economic Development Council (EDC), where he worked on the formation of the Tampa Bay Partnership which brought the EDC of Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties together to promote economic growth in the Tampa Bay area. He also served on the board of Youth and Family Alternatives (an organization which provides services to children in the Tampa Bay Area who are abused, neglected or in crisis); was a Committee of 100 board chair, served as a board member of SunTrust Bank Suncoast Region and was a member of the New Port Richey Rotary. Leonard worked and lived in Pasco County until 1996 when he retired. In 2001, Pat and Len bought a home and permanently relocated to Tavernier. Even in retirement, Len remained very active, serving as Manager and Treasurer for the Anchor Condo where they first lived. He also volunteered at Mariners Hospital, as well as being elected to Commodore of the Florida Keys Outboard Motor Club. Len was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed by all. Len is survived by his wife Pat Roe (Tavernier), their son Greg (Dade City) and his children: Rebecca Roe (5), Lukas Roe (10), Sydney Roe (20), Jessica Roe (27), Melenie Fratilla (27) & her son Austin (1) and Misty Keough (28) and her sons Landon (5) and Nathan (1) all living in the Tampa Bay area; their son Jeff (Scottsdale, AZ) and his children: Christopher Roe (25) living in Scottsdale, AZ. and Courtney Roe (22) living in Los Angeles, CA.; their daughter Terri Bernard (Odessa, FL) and her children: Tiffany Rhodes (27) living is Gainesville, FL, Elliot Bernard (22) and Hannah Bernard (19); and their daughter Lisa Roe (Crystal Beach) and her children: Elizabeth VanBroekhoven (25), Sara VanBroekhoven (24) and Haley VanBroekhoven (20) all living in Tampa Bay area. Len was predeceased by his father Glenn Roe (2007) and Mary Louise Roe (2004). Per Len's wishes he will be cremated and his ashes spread over the ocean during a private ceremony with his family. A celebration of Len's life will be held at Fox Hollow Golf Club Windows on the Green Banquet Hall, 10050 Robert Trent Jones Pkwy, Trinity, FL on Saturday, October 23rd from 11am to 1pm to which all are invited. Please call Greg Roe at 813-263-8715 for further information. In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donation to Youth and Family Alternatives, Inc., 7524 Plathe Rd, New Port Richey, FL 34653 in memory of Len.