Donald P. Roach

ROACH Dr. Donald P. Roach, age 81 of Shelton, entered into rest on Tuesday, September 25, 2007, at Griffin Hospital in Derby. Donald was the loving and devoted husband of 49 years to the late Agnes (Boyle) Roach. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on October 27, 1925, son of the late Michael and Mary (Deasy) Roach, and was raised in Bayside, Queens. Dr. Roach served his country in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. At age 18, he saw heavy combat in the European Theater of Operations Rhineland Campaign, Northern France, Central Europe and the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded five campaign medals and the Bronze Star. Following the war he enrolled at Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where he was a member of the school's first graduating class in 1950. He attended medical school at University College, Galway in Ireland, served an internship in Washington, DC, and his residency at Providence Hospital in DC. Dr. Roach joined the CIA in 1960, and was involved in the Bay of Pigs Invasion. He also served in the Middle East for the CIA based out of Cyprus. After the agency, Roach moved to Connecticut and opened a private practice in the valley. From this practice, he served the community and Griffin Hospital for more than 40 years. He was involved in many civic and medical community organizations. He was a former Medical Director of Derby Nursing Home (Birmingham Health Center) and Hewitt Memorial Hospital, former president of Naugatuck Valley Medical Society, former president of New Haven County Medical Association, former Medical Director and former Chief of Family Medicine at Griffin Hospital, Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, member of the American Medical Association, member of the Association of Military Surgeons, Co-founder and member of Conn. Irish Open Scholarship Committee, Life Member Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a proud member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was the beloved father of Geraldine Jemioto and her husband, John, of Ansonia, Kevin Roach and his wife, Mary, of Alexandria, Va.; Deirdre Roach-Ratta of Shelton and the late Joeseph Ratta, Christine Birden and her husband, Lt. Col. William Birden USMC, of Springfield, Va., Doreen Eisenman and her husband, Richard, of Milford and Brian Roach and his wife, Barbara, of Seymour. Donald was the loving grandfather of Kaitlin, Kristin, Casandra, Delia, Ian, Michaela, Catherine and Michael. He is also survived by a brother, Michael J. Roach; several nieces and nephews, cousins; and his beloved dog, Seamus. In addition to his beloved wife, he was predeceased by two brothers, Thomas and Gerard Roach. Friends may greet the family in the Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Road, Shelton on Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. On Saturday, his procession will leave the funeral home at 10:45 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. in St. Lawrence Church in Shelton. Burial will follow in Lawn Cemetery, Shelton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dept. of the Army/U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program, Att: AW2-Dexter Friday, 200 Stovall Street, Hoffman 2, Room 6N07, Alexandria, VA 22303-0400 or Respect for Life Ministry, Diocese of Bridgeport, Catholic Center, 238 Jewett Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606. Offer condolences to the family at www.riverviewfh.com.