Gregory Roche

Greg was born in New Jersey to Francis and Mary (Harvey) Roche and moved to Marlborough, Massachusetts, as a child. The youngest of three children, he is survived by his sisters Rosemary Roche of Hudson, Massachusetts, and Annmarie (Roche) Trodella of Marlborough, with whom he remained especially close throughout his life.

A proud graduate of Marlborough High School, Greg played football there and later at Boston College, beginning a lifelong love of the game that would make “Coach” less a job title and more a permanent part of his identity.

Coach spent his career as a public-school teacher and football coach, teaching History and Geography in Massachusetts and Georgia. He had a lifelong passion for teaching, coaching, and helping young people grow, believing that some of life’s most important lessons were learned both in the classroom and on the field. After retiring, he returned to education, working with young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It became some of the most meaningful and fulfilling work of his career.

The friendships Coach made through teaching and coaching lasted well beyond the classroom and football field. He remained close to a wonderful group of fellow teachers and coaches who shared meals, volunteered together, celebrated life’s milestones, and continued to show up for one another through the years.

In 1965, Greg married Catherine Ellen Cronin, also a special education teacher. Together they raised five children and created a home defined by love, acceptance, service, hand-tossed pizza, and one simple belief: there was always room for one more. “One more” might mean a family friend, a foster child, anyone who needed help, or any number of assorted critters who found their way through the door. Greg and Catherine volunteered throughout their lives, assisting refugees, teaching literacy to incarcerated individuals, and serving unhoused people through their work in shelters and food kitchens. Catherine preceded Greg in death in 2002.

Coach is survived by his five children and their spouses: Susan Roche and Scott Hargis of Atlanta, Georgia; Frank and Christy Roche of Germantown, Tennessee; Amy (Roche) and Jeff Hall of Daytona Beach, Florida; Greg Roche Jr. and Tasha Roche of Griffin, Georgia; and Lisa (Roche) and Victor Martinez of Rex, Georgia.

He also leaves behind the true pride and joy of his life: his grandchildren Hank, Sydney, Jennifer, Reese, Cedric, Brianna, Jay, Chantz, Victor Jr., Cristofer, Austin, Dominic, Calayapi, Antoinette, Fama, and Sanibou; and his great-grandchildren Aseem, DeAndre, Royal, Andre, Za’Riyah, Joel, Assayah, Norel, MacKenzie, Micah, Jade, Addy, Claire, and Gwendolyn.

To them, he was Grandpa Coach, except on Sundays, when he became Grampy Donuts, making his rounds from house to house, delivering Dunkin’ Donuts along the way. Few things made Coach happier than being surrounded by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In 2016, Coach moved to the Palms at Lake Spivey, where he built a community he dearly loved. He always said the best thing about the Palms was the people. He treasured the friends he made there and deeply appreciated the staff whose warmth, care, and support made it feel like home. In typical Coach fashion, he brought plenty of Roche family energy with him. The pool and social spaces became gathering places for Grandpa Coach pool parties, graduation celebrations, and the annual Roche Family Christmas-After-Christmas. His friends and neighbors welcomed the fun, noise, children, food, and celebrations. Our family will always be grateful to the friends and staff who made the Palms such a happy and important part of his life.

Coach was remarkably easygoing, endlessly optimistic, and genuinely grateful. He looked for what was good, learned what he could from what wasn’t, and kept moving forward. He loved people, welcomed them easily, and had an extraordinary ability to turn friends into family. Anytime he was asked about it he would tell you he was “Living the dream.”

That spirit never changed, even as his health declined. His family is deeply grateful for the extraordinary kindness and compassion shown to Coach by his caregivers at Atlanta Cancer Care and Sacred Journey/Family Hospice, where he had once volunteered.

Coach’s family was his greatest source of pride. And he was ours.

There was nothing complicated about the way Coach approached life. He loved his family fiercely, collected friends wherever he went, found reasons to laugh, looked for the good in people, and refused to let the hard things have the final word.

It is difficult to imagine a better way to have lived. For all of us lucky enough to have been part of this family, whether by birth, marriage, friendship, or simply because Coach decided we belonged, his life gives us all something to live up to.

Funeral Services

Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance of Coach.

Visitation

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Horis A. Ward – Fairview Chapel

376 Fairview Rd, Stockbridge, GA 30281

Funeral Mass

Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

St. Philip Benizi

591 Flint River Rd, Jonesboro, GA 30238

For those unable to attend in person the service will be available via livestream at: St. Philip Benizi Church Livestream

Interment

A graveside service will follow the Funeral Mass at

Fairview Memorial Gardens

164 Fairview Rd, Stockbridge, GA 30281

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Coach’s memory might consider a contribution to one of the organizations he cared deeply about: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Smile Train