William P. Roch
2005
William P. Roche, 80, former treasurer and vice president for finance at Catholic University and managing partner at the accounting firm Thomas Havey Co., died of congestive heart failure Nov. 18 at Shady Grove Hospital in Rockville. He was a Silver Spring resident.
	Mr. Roche began his career in the accounting department of Catholic University and then formed McGinley  Roche in 1962 and McGinley, Roche Mallory in 1969. In 1979, the firm merged with Thomas Havey  Co. of Chicago, and Mr. Roche became managing partner of the Washington office.
	In 1988, he was appointed vice president for finance and treasurer for Catholic University and worked there until retiring in 1993.
		Mr. Roche served as a volunteer for a large number of organizations. He was member of the finance council for the Archdiocese of Washington and chairman of the 1985 and 1986 Archbishop's Appeal. He was a board member of Christ Child Society Inc., Olney Theatre Corp. University Players Inc., Circus Saints and Sinners, P.T. Barnum Tent, Associated Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese, Catholic Charities Corp., Center for Life at Providence Hospital and St. Ann's Infant and Maternal Home. He also was treasurer of the Immaculata Preparatory School Fathers' Club.
In 1993, Pope John Paul II gave him the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice insignia for his work in the Catholic Church. In 1983, Mr. Roche was the recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award in the field of business and finance from Catholic University.
He was a member of the Federal Order of the Knights of Malta and a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of St. Bartholomew Church of Bethesda and Our Lady of Grace Church in Silver Spring.
Mr. Roche was born in Winthrop, Mass., and moved with his family to Washington in 1928. He attended Gonzaga College High School and graduated from Eastern High School. During World War II, he served as a bombardier/navigator in the Army Air Corps and was a member of the 390th Bombardment Group, flying 17 missions over enemy territory.
He was a 1948 graduate of Strayer College and received his CPA certificate in 1952. He was a 1962 graduate of the Columbus School of Law of Catholic University.
Mr. Roche lectured on legal accounting at the Columbus School of Law and taught income taxation and tax law for small businesses in Catholic's adult education program.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Travis Roche of Silver Spring; four children, William P. Roche Jr. of Poolesville, Thomas E. Roche of Silver Spring, Joseph P. Roche of Potomac and Monica R. Allston of Olney; and 17 grandchildren.