Photo courtesy of Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home - Carthage
Jun 12, 1930 - Aug 17, 2025
We have not had the honor of meeting Mr. Roch but his grandson Joseph is our son-in-law. The history of your life is amazing and may you rest in peace.
Andy & Ann Milner
August 21, 2025 | Raleigh, NC | Friend
Mr. Roch was my elementary phys. ed instructor in Watertown about 60 years ago. I ran into him many many years later through our mutual involvement in the Church. A very fine Catholic gentleman.
Neil Fuller
August 21, 2025 | Clayton, NY | Acquaintance
Ron was a wrestling referee and coach in the same era as my husband,
Dave Adams. Ron was a respected force in both those roles as he taught the young men of central NY.
Gratitude for your devotion. Penny Adams
penny Adams
August 21, 2025 | Auburn, NY | Acquaintance
Coach Roch was my first wrestling coach which in turn introduced me to the sport of wrestling. He meant so much to all of us want to Be's. I will be forever thankful for his patience and support when it was so badly needed. Thank you coach....RIP.
Keith Rose
August 21, 2025 | Leesburg, FL | Student
Was a good friend of my dads and always tried to get me to do soccer and track.. Remember him well. They are playing ball now! RIP!!
Bridget woodward
August 21, 2025 | Carthage, NY | Friend
My brother Mark and I started our wrestling careers at the Cicero summer tournaments run by Ron. We each had the honor of wrestling the Roch brothers. Thank you Ron for the great influence you had on so many young men through wrestling, including the Eddy boys from Van Etten. A life well lived!
Bob Eddy
August 20, 2025 | Canton, GA | Friend
my most sincere condolences to the family of Ron Roch. His decision to become a teacher, a coach, and a mentor has positively influenced many a young person over so many years.There are many who owe him the best years of their lives.
Stephen Buck
August 20, 2025 | Student
My sincere condolences to the family and all who will miss him! I know I will! I’m so glad my kids got to know him! They all had a special place in their hearts for their grandfather! I know when he arrived in Heaven, Jesus and Aaron welcomed him home ! I can only imagine the angels singing
❤❤❤❤❤
When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
❤❤❤❤❤
May the wonderful...
August 20, 2025
Frank and I send our sincere condolences to Ron's family. Ron was a good friend, and we had fun times together.
Yolanda and Frank Skvorak
August 19, 2025 | Carthage, NY | Friend
Ronald R. Roch
June 12, 1930 –August 17, 2025
Ronald ‘Coach’ Roch, 95, a former resident of North Syracuse, NY; Carthage, NY; and Zephyrhills, FL, peacefully passed away on Sunday, embraced by loved ones.
Born in Carthage to the late Leslie and Marie (Oliveira) Roch, Ron grew up in Carthage, NY, and was a ‘shy, country boy’ working on the family farm. He graduated from Carthage High School in 1948, lettering in football and baseball, and received his master’s degree from Ithaca College in 1960, where he also excelled in football, soccer, and track. He previously served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War from 1951 to 1955, stationed at Loring AF Base in Maine and Barksdale AF Base in Louisiana.
Ron dedicated over four decades of his life to education, teaching physical education, driver’s education, officiating many different sports, but coaching wrestling was his true passion. He began at Watertown High School, coaching from 1959 to 1967. He then went on to North Syracuse High School until 1982, and finally to the newly established CNS High School until his retirement in 1987. In his wrestling coaching career, he achieved an impressive record, winning 338 varsity meets, placing him among the top 10 coaches in NYS wrestling history. Even in retirement, he continued to share his passion of coaching wrestling, girls’ softball, and soccer at Carthage, and later at South Lewis High School.
While at North Syracuse and CNS, Ron originated and led the first Pee Wee Wrestling Program and the first youth tournaments in the region, as well as serving as the Co-Director of the Big Orange Wrestling Camps. He left an impact on numerous wrestlers and students long after stepping off the mat. He is the author of Basic Beginning Wrestling and I Am a Shy, Country Boy.
Ron was thrilled to be inducted into the Upstate Chapter of the National Hall of Fame (2006), the New York State Wrestling Hall of Fame (1998), Section III Hall of Fame (2006), and the North Syracuse Hall of Fame (2006).
Aside from wrestling, Ron has been recognized for his contributions and dedication within his communities. He served as the President of the NYS Retired Teachers Association and sat on the legislative committee in Albany for numerous years. He worked as the Town Councilman and Deputy Supervisor of Carthage for 15 years, as well as the Chamber of Commerce, and numerous civic, fraternal, and veteran’s organizations. He was also the Co-Director of the Carthage Area Farmer’s Market, which was named after his father, Leslie. In his later years, he proudly sold his flowers and vegetables at the market. Ron was an avid hunter, fisherman, camper, sports fanatic, and a farmer at heart, who also enjoyed traveling with his family across the country - including 47 states, 27 baseball stadiums, and 29 national parks.
Ron is predeceased by: his parents, Leslie and Marie Roch, his wife; Marcella Roch, his sisters Jacqueline McComiskey and Carolyn McDonald; grandson Aaron Roch; and brother-in-law Beryl Walseman.
Ron is survived by: his children, Randy (Donna) Roch, Russell (Teresa) Roch, Roger (Sherrie) Roch, Renee (Patrick) Frontale, and Yvette (Mike) Sims; sister: Ramona Walseman; 13 grandchildren: Joseph, Jessica, Rachel, Jordan, Stephanie, Austin, Sarah, Nick, Samuel, Sophia, David, Erika, and Rebecca; and 8 great grandchildren.
Family and friends may call from 4 to 7pm Friday, August 22, 2025, at the Bezanilla-McGraw Funeral Home in Carthage, NY. A funeral service will be celebrated on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 11am in St. James Catholic Church in Carthage, NY, followed by a burial with military honors at the family plot at St. Stephen’s Cemetery in Croghan, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to: the Alzheimer’s Association of CNY OR to help wrestlers in CNY, mail to: Pin2Win Inc, c/o Gene Mills, 4024 Pinyon Pine Path, Liverpool, NY 13090.
“I have been to the ‘top of the mountain’ and completed all I wished to accomplish in a lifetime.” - Ron Roch
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