Robert John Roche

Robert John Roche, age 65, of Mentor, passed away on January 18th, 2017, after a battle with an aggressive cancer. Bob was born on July 22nd, 1951 in Cleveland, to the late Damaris (Grimm) and Ernest Roche. He grew up in Cleveland Heights and was a graduate of Cleveland Heights High School. He later relocated to the Mentor area.


Bob was full of life and always having fun! His passion was to be out on the water enjoying his boat or just hanging at the dock with his WRYC family. He also loved spending time in the warm sun in Florida with friends and family. He spent a lot of his life participating in softball and bowling leagues and playing golf. He was a loving, “cool”, #1 Grandpa to his grandchildren, whom he cherished. He was also a faithful partner to the love of his life, Linda.


Bob was known to give anything he could to help someone out. He was always lending a helping hand to those around him…and with a smile on his face.


Bob started at Lincoln Electric in 1974 and dedicated 41 years of his life to the company. He worked his way up to a managing foreman, and had developed life-long friendships while he was there. He retired in fall of 2015.


He is survived by his significant other of thirty-two years, Linda Phillips; his two children Rick Roche and Tina (Matias) Nicomedes; his step-daughter Kelli (Scott) Rowe; his siblings: Mary (John) Hayes, Ernie (Pat) Roche, Carol (Mike) DiCorpo, Katy (Mike) Zippert, Joe (Annemarie) Roche, and Tim (Debbie) Roche; his grandchildren Benicio and Elliana Nicomedes, Jillian (Nick) Rantamaki, Brian Fairbanks, Kayla Rowe; his great-grandchildren Stella and Wyatt Rantamaki, and many nieces and nephews.


In addition to his parents, Bob is preceded in death by his step-daughter Wendy Kolaric.


Dad did not want a funeral or service—he did not want anyone to be sad over his death, so we have decided as a family to hold a “Celebration of Life” on Sunday, February 19th, 2017 from 2-5pm at Western Reserve Yacht Club, 1325 High Street, Painesville, OH 44077. All are welcome to come by.