Dennis O'Connell Roth

Dennis O'Connell Roth died on April 27, 2021 in San Diego, California. Born in Chicago on September 29, 1948, he was the son of the late Arthur J. Roth Jr. and the late Virginia O'Connell Roth. He was the brother of Arthur J. Roth III, Sharon Roth, and Mary Burke, and the uncle of many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Dennis attended St. Francis Xavier School in Wilmette, Quigley Seminary North in Chicago, St Joseph College of Loyola University, Chicago, and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary. He was ordained a priest on May 8, 1974. After leaving the priesthood he became Director of the Road Scholar Program at San Diego State University in 1992, the position from which he retired in 2015.

Dennis was caring and compassionate and had a twinkle in his eye and a warm smile as he greeted everyone he encountered. An avid reader with special interests in ancient Rome and the Civil War, he was noted for his brief quips that would leave everyone laughing. He rarely missed doing the word scramble and the crossword puzzle in the daily paper. His interests included a love of all kinds of music from Gregorian chant to rock (he had a beautiful singing voice) and sports, particularly the Chicago Blackhawks. Among his prized possessions were a red Corvette and later a black Mustang GT. He was an excellent teacher, writer and mentor to many. He was loyal to his family, his fellow workers, neighbors, and friends.

A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at noon at St. Francis Xavier Church, 524 Ninth St., Wilmette, IL. The Mass will be livestreamed on youtube.com/saintsjoseph-francisxavier. Interment at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, IL. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity. Info: Wm. H. Scott Funeral Home, 847-251-8200.