Mr. John Cornelius Roan

John C. Roan passed away peacefully on Sunday afternoon at Saad Hospice Retreat after a lengthy illness. He leaves his wife, Connie Easterling Roan; his children Patrick A. Roan, Kathleen M. Roan, and Brendan A. Roan (Casey Montanari) and grandchildren Skylar Christine Roan and Fox Aaron Roan. He was predeceased by his parents, John Augustine Roan and Catherine Lawless Roan, and two sisters, Kathleen Roan Melander and Mary Roan Rocchio. John was born in Providence, Rhode Island, the youngest of three with two older sisters, Mary and Kathleen. He lived in a small, close knit community on the Rhode Island Coastline where he developed his love of the water and boats. John has always been deeply involved in his church, starting as an altar boy at St. Benedict Catholic Church. He attended LaSalle Academy and as a Senior he was awarded a medal and scholarship as a National Science Fair finalist for his medical research project. Following high school, John attended the Mill Hill Fathers Seminary in New York State. He then decided to follow his passion for boats and joined the Navy giving him the opportunity to serve his country and travel throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. John served on an LST during the Cuban Missel crises and often shared his account of the long night off the coast of Cuba. After he served in the Navy, he attended Niagara University. Following his time at Niagara, he was employed by NASA as a PERT specialist, working on the Saturn V rocket program in Huntsville, AL and later at the test site in Slidell, MS. John was proud to be a part of the exciting “Space Race” of the 1960’s and continued his interest in our country’s space program throughout his life. It was during this time that he had a blind date with Connie Easterling. Eight weeks later they were married in Long Beach, MS John and his bride moved to Warwick, Rhode Island where they made their home and raised their children. Their home grew to include three children, several dogs, a horse, chickens, and a rabbit. John enjoyed gardening with his children every summer. John lived in Warwick, RI for many years where he was a communicant of St. Kevin Catholic Church. While living in Warwick he worked at Nicholson File Co., Sears, and taught math and science in the Catholic Schools. He also worked as a contractor. John taught in the Jackson, MS, and Mobile County Public Schools. Dauphin Island became his home in 1998 and he loved the small community life. John attended St. Michel Catholic Church in Heron Bay where he helped with repairs to the church and the rectory. He later became a communicant of St. Edmund By-the-Sea Catholic Church on Dauphin Island where he ran Bingo for the Men of St. Edmund, using the proceeds for charitable causes. He put his woodworking skills to use and built the beautiful cross that now hangs over the altar. John followed his mother in her devotion to St. Francis and the third order, and at age 84 he was professed in the Secular Franciscan Order.

Mr. John Cornelius Roan

January 6, 1937 - April 23, 2023