Albert J. Roesel

Mr. Albert Roesel, 94, died at Ogeechee Hospice on February 6, 2012, surrounded during his final days by three generations of family. His wife, Rosalyn “Tappy” Roesel, died December 2, 2007. Born in Augusta Georgia August 12, 1917, he lost his father in June 1921, and was raised by his mother, Ruth, who supported him and his three sisters by running a boarding house. After working his way through Georgia Tech and graduating in 1938 with a degree in Electrical Engineering, he met his future wife, Rosalyn Sylvester, one of five daughters of a widowed mother who also operated a boarding house, and married her in April 1941. He joined the Army as the U.S. entered WWII, obtaining captain’s rank and serving until 1946. His service included teaching antiaircraft artillery, being Battalion Commander of the 72nd Chemical Mortar Battalion, and training in Hawaii for invasion of the Japanese home islands. After discharge, he returned to Augusta to work as a Sales Engineer for the Electrical Equipment Company, and then moved his family to Savannah where he and his close friend Gene Dawson worked with and then became owners of the Electrical Machinery Company, which rewound and repaired industrial motors. After his brother-in-law, Harry Sack, died leaving a wife, Anne, and large family, Albert moved to Statesboro in 1956 to help keep the H.A. Sack Co. operating. He later purchased the business, and under his leadership and later that of his sons Paul and Philip grew it into one the largest electrical/mechanical companies in Georgia. He also participated in founding other businesses, including Statesboro CATV (now Northland Cable TV), Engineered Fiberglass in South Carolina, and a fork lift company in Savannah.

Albert fell in love with the Statesboro community. He was civically active and enthusiastically supported and participated in numerous philanthropic and humanitarian causes. He was a charter member of the Statesboro Community Relations Council 1971-1976, a member of the Statesboro Electrical Examining Board beginning in 1972, past Director of Rotary, president of the Statesboro Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce, served in various positions in Education Institutions, including Swainsboro Tech Electrical Advisory Committee, Georgia Southern Industrial School of Technology advisory committee, Georgia Southern Foundation Finance Committee, Georgia Southern College President’s Advisory Council, Georgia Tech Fund Drive and as past chairman of the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport Committee. Albert also served on the board of directors for Joseph’s Home for Boys rallying support to get the home out of debt during a critical time and has continued to support this cause throughout his life. He has served with a lifetime membership in the American Society for Heating/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineers and as a member in the Illuminating Engineers Society. Albert also has served on the United Way Campaign, the Day for Southern Fund Drive, the Statesboro Teen challenge program, New Beginnings for Children program, and was a major benefactor towards the construction of Georgia Southern Iron Works, the J.I. Clements Stadium field house and the parking and playing field lighting at Paulsen Stadium . He received the 1986 Business Leader of the Year, the Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Award in 1989, the Deen Day Smith Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991 and was honored with the Rotary Citizen of the Year award in 2000. In addition to his participation in these many causes he has given many gallons of his blood to The Red Cross organization and has been an active leader and member of St. Matthew Catholic Church.

He obtained an aviation license in the 1960s, bought several planes, and flew his aircraft throughout the U.S. and to the Caribbean Islands and Mexico. He also traveled worldwide via commercial aviation, including visits to Thailand, Bolivia, France and Germany. He particularly enjoyed visits and storytelling with his extended family, and Skyped regularly with loved ones scattered throughout the world. He also enjoyed tennis, biking, dancing, and had extensive reading interests, particularly in history and popular science and technology. In his later years he was sustained by regular visits and calls from his family and a network of friends, particularly his personal trainer, Tom Melton, a regular visitor, Jim Bergin, and his caretaker, Teresa Tucker.

He and Tappy are survived by seven children and sixteen grandchildren: Albert (wife Cindy and son Bert), Richard (wife Dana and daughters Kristen, Justin, Lauren, Ryan), Rosalyn (husband Ron and children Steven, Christy, Kim), Christopher (wife Connie and daughters Martine, Rene), Paul (wife Dee-Ann and children Seth, Madison) Philip (fiancé Karen Smith and his children Laura, Philip, Michael), and Gregory (son John Albert) Roesel and thirteen great grandchildren.

Albert leaves a legacy of Caring and Sharing with all of his family, friends, and the community he so loved.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 10th from 4:00 until 6:00 P.M. in the Social Hall of St. Matthew Catholic Church.

Services for Mr. Roesel will be held Friday, February 10th at 6:00 P.M. at St. Matthew Catholic Church with Father Brett Brannen officiating.

Interment will be on Saturday with a private family gathering.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, Ga. 30459 or to St. Joseph’s Home for Boys, 3400 Cypress Lake Road, Statesboro Ga. 30458.

Please visit our online memorial at www.hodgesmoore.com to sign the guestbook and to share your thoughts and fond memories with the Roesel family.

Hodges-Moore Funeral Home of Statesboro is in charge of the arrangements.