Pete was born on June 15, 1930, to Frank and Elizabeth Roach in Mandarin, Florida, and in 1958, he married the love of his life, Suzanne Andrews Roach. They went on to have four children: Mary, Peter Jr., Patricia, and Steve.
In the full and productive 92 years of his life, Pete witnessed the electrification of his hometown, Mandarin, Florida, and worked on some of the first computer systems in the world while serving in the Army’s Machine Records Unit. Pete later worked for Prudential Insurance Company in the computer room, and Pete would say he had 40 tons of air conditioning to support 14K of memory.
Pete retired at the young age of 55 and proceeded to enjoy his 37 years of retirement living very close to his family. He started his retirement by riding a racing bike from Jacksonville to Key West, spent quite a few winters on a sailboat in the Bahamas, and traveled cross country with a friend after he learned to drive an eighteen-wheeler, he also enjoyed fishing the Gulfstream, or just doting over his pride and joy, his great-grandchildren. While traveling from Charleston, SC to Jacksonville, FL, Pete celebrated his 87th birthday on a 44’ sailboat. This was the final leg of a cruise to see his grandson graduate from the United States Naval Academy. Pete was also one of the original families at San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church.
Pete was predeceased by his loving Wife (Suzanne Roach), Mother Elizabeth Roach (Bebee), Father Frank A. Roach (Buddy), and Brother Frank Roach. Pete leaves behind his four children, Mary Steele (Edward), Peter Roach Jr, Patricia Dendor (Edwin), and Steve Roach, four grandchildren Brian Steele, Jessica Steele, Chris Dendor (Samantha), and Nick Dendor (Casey), three great-grandchildren Dakota, Beau, and Blake Dendor and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Services will be held at San Juan Del Rio Catholic church on January 7, 2023 at 11:00am. Inurnment at Mandarin Cemetery. In place of flowers the family requests donations to Community Hospice & Palliative Care on Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville FL.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgmandarin.com for the Roach family.
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