Carl J. Roesch

Carl J. Roesch (90) has crossed his final finish line forever, cementing a legacy that will endure in perpetuity. A long-time educator, Carl has passed on leaving his second wife Susan (Klippert-Sessions) of 29 years and his 6 children: Cheryl (David) Bailey, Karen (James) Lowery, Laura (Randy) Ellman, Karl (Diane Maggio) Keith, & Craig (Amanda) Roesch. Carl was born during The Great Depression to the late Carl J. Sr. & Esther (Brzycki) in the city of Buffalo.

After graduating from Kensington High School, Carl would matriculate at Canisius College where he would earn his B.S. in Mathematics and his M.S. in Education. While there, he spent a couple of seasons as manager of the cross-country team and the track & field team under his father, Carl Sr., who was the Head Coach. Carl would fill in at any event his father needed him to in order to get points for the team. He did every event at one time or another except the pole vault. While earning his Master’s, Carl was in the R.O.T.C. and did his basic training for the U.S. Army in Fort Bliss, TX. Carl was excused from being in the Army Reserves due to the high demand for math & science teachers during the Cold War Era. He taught two years of 7th & 8th grade math and science at P.S. #45 in Buffalo. After that, Carl would go on to teach an incredible 30 years at Sweet Home High School; The final 25 as Chairman of the Math Department. Unbelievably, he would coach boys’ cross-country for an amazing 40 years. His 1986 team won the Class A State Championship. His teams would win 16 E.C.I.C. and Section VI Championships. His 410 cross-country coaching victories are still the second most all-time in the nation. With running & coaching in his veins, Carl has also served as indoor & outdoor track & field coach for both boys and girls. He has always lent his knowledge and service on several committees for cross-country and track & field for the E.C.I.C., Section VI and N.Y.S.. The W.N.Y. Track Classic was a renown event under his leadership as Meet Director during the 1970s & 80s. This great event was renamed after his father’s passing as the “Carl J. Roesch Memorial Boys Track Classic”. Carl remained involved with this event behind the scenes well into his eighties. In addition, Carl has run two marathons including the New York City Marathon and worked for Section VI as Executive Director and then Treasurer during his retirement.

Carl has received countless awards and accolades throughout his life. The 1969 yearbook at Sweet Home was dedicated to him, “a man for whom we have the greatest respect, as a teacher, as a coach, and as a person.” He has left a positive impact by all that have ever known him.

“Papa” aka "Grandpa Golf Balls," will be sadly missed by his loving grandchildren: Alisha Gaynor, Amanda (Tim) Taylor, Brieanna (Bill) Patti, Carissa (Robert) Sugar, Alissa (Paul) Girdler, Jake (Danielle) Lowery, Alexandra & Matt (Wendy) Lowery, Ryan & Jason Roesch. Step-grandfather of McKayla MacRae.

Carl has also been blessed with a dozen great-grandchildren who will also continue his legacy: Andrew, Luke, Dominic, D.J., Rosie, Liam, Kai, Sydney, Vera, Theo, David, and Aria.

His extensive family includes his step-children: Terri Klippert, David Klippert, and the late Steven Klippert as well as his step-grandchildren: Maia, Aidan, Abbey, Britton, Charlotte, Jonathon (Alex), Carley and two step great-grandchild Paytyn and Landon.

Other family include his sister Sharon (late Robert Alan) Davis, Deborah (Thomas) Jasinski, late Barbara (Ossie) Omar, the late Gregory (Christine) Roesch, and the mother of his children, his first wife of 27 years, the late Rosemarie Netter, along with dozens of nieces and nephews and their children.

Carl’s “heaven on earth” was the time he spent with his wife Susie relaxing in Hawaii. Dad we know you will enjoy Heaven, where you can walk in your shorts daily, around places like Hawaii’s Big Island, watching over your family in Heaven, as you did on earth.

Love, Your Ever-growing Family