Jack Roehm

Jack Moody Roehm VIRGINIA BEACH - Jack Moody Roehm passed away July 15, 2010 at the Atlantic Shores Retirement Community in Virginia Beach. Jack, affectionately called "Great Jack" by his great-granddaughter, was born Nov. 19, 1913 in New Orleans to Perry and Iva-Lee Moody Roehm. He graduated with honors from Tulane University in 1934 with a B.E. degree in mechanical and electrical engineering. While at Tulane, he was elected to Tau Beta Pi Honorary Engineering Society. He continued his education at Cal Tech where, in 1935, he obtained his M.S. degree in electrical engineering. Upon graduation from Cal Tech, he entered flight training at Pensacola, becoming an aviator in the U.S. Navy. He was assigned to the Fighting Squadron Five attached to the Aircraft Carrier Yorktown stationed in Norfolk. It was during his time in Norfolk that he met his future wife, Virginia Page Bragg. During World War II, Jack was a chief engineer and pilot for Carl L. Norden Co. There he worked on the development of automatic flight controls for the Nordon Bombsight in New York City. After the war, Jack tackled many engineering problems for various companies, first becoming a research engineer for the Pullman Standard Car Company of Chicago where he worked on the design of high speed rail cars. He then became the vice president of Research and Development for the Kawneer Co. of Niles, Mich., where he helped develop the first automatic door opening systems. He then moved to Richmond to work for the Reynolds Metals Company as their director of Architectural Building Products and Marketing Development. Jack concluded his career as the owner of his own consulting firm, Jack M. Roehm & Associates in Virginia Beach. During his career, Jack was the president of the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers (NAAMM). Jack was predeceased by his wife, Virginia, to whom he was married for 52 years. Jack is survived by his children, Judith Page Roehm of Indian Hills, Colo., and Edward R. Roehm and his wife Frances of Virginia Beach; granddaughter, Sasha Roehm Krigsvold, her husband Kevin Krigsvold and great-granddaughter Sabine Roehm Krigsvold of Norfolk; his devoted companion, Frances Conroy and his dear friends the Murden family. Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Atlantic Shores and Harbourway for the kindness they showed our father. In lieu of flowers, please send a contribution to the Virginia Beach SPCA or to your favorite charity. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 19, in the Magnolia Room at the Atlantic Shores Retirement Community in Virginia Beach. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Laskin Road Chapel, is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.