Hazel T. Roe

HAZEL T. ROE Hazel T. Roe, long time Palm Beach resident, died January 7, 2003 in Palm Beach. Mrs. Roe also had homes in Greenwich, CT and Nantucket, MA, where she summered for nearly 50 years. Mrs. Roe was the wife of Mr. Kenneth A. Roe, the former Chairman and CEO of Burns and Roe Group, Inc. Burnsand Roe is a large international engineering, construction and operations services company headquartered in Oradell, NJ. The company has been very active for many years in the domestic and international power generation business and has done major projects for federal government agencies such as the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. During her many years supporting company activities, Mrs. Roe traveled extensively to all parts of the world from the former Soviet Union, to South America and to numerous countries in the Asia - Pacific Region. Mrs. Roe was a vivacious and high-energy woman whose interests and activities spanned a wide range that went well beyond the raising of her five children and being the corporate CEO's wife. She was truly a modern woman well ahead of her time in her many interests and numerous activities in the community. In her local community, Mrs. Roe was very active even in the early years of raising her five children. In addition to teaching Sunday school in Ridgewood, NJ, she was a troop leader for her daughters Brownie and then Girl Scout Troop while also supporting the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for her sons. After moving to Greenwich, she continued this community focus in numerous ways including some of her more recent activities such as member of the Board of Directors of the Bruce Museum and Honorary Trustee of the First Church of Round Hill. Mrs. Roe was also an active supporter in the political arena. In the mid 1950's, Mrs. Roe was the State Chairwoman for the Gubernatorial Campaign of Malcolm S. Forbes. For a number of years, she was also the Chairwoman of the Ridgewood (NJ) Woman's Republican Club. In later years, she continued this strong support of the Republican Party in numerous ways, including being an Eagle and attending conventions and supporting political campaigns. On a more personal side, Mrs. Roe was also an accomplished artist, horse breeder and investor. A member of the Nantucket Artist Association and the Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach, Mrs. Roe exhibited paintings at the National Republican Club in NYC, at the James Hunt Barker Galleries in Palm Beach and Nantucket, Nantucket Artists Association exhibitions, and the Everglades Club Annual Art Show. Mrs Roe was also seriously engaged in thoroughbred horses for over 25 years. With her late husband, she managed Hemlock Ridge Stables and successfully raced thoroughbreds, owning 50 horses at its peak. She was a member of the Jockey Club at Belmont Racetrack, the New York Racing Association, and the Turf Club in Gulf Stream, FL. After the death of her husband, she continued to own, race and breed many prestigious thoroughbreds. In 2001, Mrs. Roe was named Breeder Of The Year by the New Jersey Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Mrs. Roe was an active and successful investor, a passion going back to early days of her marriage while raising five children. Saving extra money each week from her expenses, she built a successful portfolio. She developed that interest through membership in an investment club in Ridgewood, and then founded an investment club when she moved to Greenwich. Avidly following the business world and the financial markets on a daily basis, she developed an investment acumen that gave her a reputation as a person to listen to even amongst her professional investment advisors. Mrs. Roe was also active in tennis and golf, with memberships in the Everglades Club, the Greenwich Country Club, the Nantucket Yacht Club and Sankaty Head golf Club. Mrs. Roe lived an active, energetic and full life. With her many varied interests and involvements, she was not only an inspiration to her children and grandchildren, but one whose presence was felt by all whom she met. Mrs. Roe is survived by her five children: Mr. Ralph C. Roe of Greenwich, CT, Mr. Randall B. Roe of Potomac, MD and Palm Beach, Mr K. Keith Roe of Greenwich and Nantucket, Mrs. Hollace Roe Mejer of New York City, and Mr. W. Barton Roe of Upper Saddle River, NJ. Mrs. Roe also had 12 grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to the West Virginia Relief Fund, a special charity that Mrs. Roe initiated which supports poor families in the West Virginia coal region. Donations may be made out to the First Church of Round Hill, and sent to the First Church of Round Hill, 464 Round Hill Rd, Greenwich, CT, 06831. Please annotate any donation to the West Virginia Relief Fund. QUATTLEBAUM-HOLLEMAN-BURSE FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED www.Quattlebaum.org