John J. Roach
2006
John J. Roach, 88, an electronic scientist at the National Bureau of Standards who also worked for what became the Army Department's Harry Diamond Laboratories, died June 26 of complications from Parkinson's disease at Summerville Senior Living Community in Port Orange, Fla. He is a former Washington resident.
Mr. Roach worked on several sensitive projects during World War II and was part of the team that developed the radio proximity fuze used in the detonation of ordnance. He also contributed to the production of the transistor. He retired from Harry Diamond Labs in 1972.
Mr. Roach, a native Washingtonian, grew up Chester, Pa., and Washington. He graduated from Eastern High School and the Capitol Radio Engineering Institute, after which he joined the National Bureau of Standards.
He was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Washington and was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels.
He moved from Washington to Port Orange in 2003.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Dolores Henry Roach of Port Orange; and a daughter, Kathleen Roach of New Smyrna, Fla.