Dr. Edward J. Roche Jr., 90, a longtime Bradford physician, passed away peacefully, after a brief illness, on July 13, 2016, in Chesapeake, VA, surrounded by many of his children.
Dr. Roche was born on January 22, 1926 in Syracuse, NY, where he grew up the middle of three children to Edward J. and Gladys (Moore) Roche, Sr.
Ed graduated in 1943 from Nottingham High School in Syracuse. He attended the University of Rochester for both his undergraduate degree in 1946 earning an A.B. in Pre-Med, and his Medical Degree under the U.S. Navy V-12 program in 1950. While doing his medical internship the following year at the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, he met his future wife, Gretchen Kraft, a nurse, whom he married in 1951.
From 1951 to 1953, Dr. Roche served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as a battalion surgeon to the 64th Field Artillery Battalion, 25th Infantry Division in Korea. He also served as surgeon at Fort Meade Army Hospital in Maryland. He was honorably discharged as a Captain. He earned the Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars and the United Nations Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star.
While visiting Bradford in 1953 to inspect the newly constructed first aluminum hospital in the world, Dr. Roche was asked by longtime Bradford physician, Dr. Gordon Huff, to temporarily assist in his family medical practice. Falling in love with Bradford and its people, what started out as temporary, turned into four decades of a life in Bradford devoted to its community. Dr. Roche eventually took over Huff’s medical practice, grew and expanded it. He became a member of the medical staff at the new Bradford Hospital serving it in many capacities. Through the years he was Medical Staff President and a member of the Hospital Board of Directors. He was also instrumental in the conception and building of the Nursing Pavilion connected to the hospital.
While in Bradford Dr. Roche served as the city’s health officer, industrial physician to Zippo Corporation, and a member of the McKean County Health Council. He believed in service to his community. He went on house calls day or night with his black bag, volunteered as physician to St. Bernard’s Elementary School and as athletic physician to the Bradford Central Christian football team, attending every home game through the years.
When not practicing medicine, he enjoyed hunting with his friends in the Allegheny Mountain range and boating and fishing on Kinzua Lake. He also delighted in taking family summer vacations with his wife Gretchen and six children in their Winnebago. He was a devoted member of St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, and served as lector and President of the Advisory Council for many years. Through the Erie Diocese, he volunteered his services over several summers to help establish a medical clinic and provide medical care in the Appalachian Region of Kentucky and West Virginia to families who had no medical access.
Dr. Roche also had several business interests in Bradford, most notably, Bisett Corporation.
He retired to Virginia in 1991 to be closer to his family. Ed and Gretchen were active in their parish community of Resurrection Church in Portsmouth VA. Ed served as Treasurer of the parish for many years. They both were committed to supporting Oasis Social Ministry, a private, not-for-profit, charitable corporation that provides comprehensive services to the homeless and the less fortunate in the region.
He is survived by his six children: Alexander Roche of Boston, MA; Dorothy Roche of Groton, NY; Mary Morgan (Kevin) of Chesapeake, VA; Christine Posey (Victor) of Suffolk, VA; Martha Horsley (Jack) of Newport News, VA; and Nancy Mollner (Mark) of Williamsburg, VA. And seven grandchildren survive him: Matthew, Corey, Katie, Karli, Noah, Emma, and Madeline.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Gretchen, who died in July 2002, one sister, Elizabeth Druce, and one brother, David Roche.
Family will be receiving friends on Sunday, July 31, 2016, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm in the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Home at 372 East Main Street. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, August 1, 2016 at 11:00am in St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, with Rev. Leo J. Gallina, as Celebrant. Immediately after the Mass Full Military Honors will be accorded by members of the United States Army and members of the American Legion Post 108. Committal services and burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in St. Mary’s on Tuesday with Rev. Alfred Patterson, OSB officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association at cmtausa.org. Or P.O. Box 105, Glenolden, PA 19036.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com