David W. Roese

David Whittier Roese of Catonsville, MD died on Sunday June 6, 2008 at Centreville Hospice House. He was 82. Born on November 24, 1925 in Wilkinsburg, PA he is the son of the late John (Jack) A. and Edith Adelane (Hobe) Roese. He graduated from Ben Avon High in 1943 where he earned letters in baseball and football. He then went on to attend Alleghany College in Meadville, PA in 1943 but left to join the Navy in 1944. After US Naval Training in Great Lakes, IL and Houston, TX he served in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Okinawa, Japan in 1945 and Shanghai, China in 1946. After leaving the military and returning to Alleghany College he met and married Helen M. Stenstrom on September 25, 1948. While in college Mr. Roese earned his letters in football and baseball, participated in theatre productions, was class President, and a member and past President of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He later took Graduate Classes at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He began a long career with Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1947, working first in Montclair, New Jersey then moving back to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1951 he was part of the original group of employees sent to Baltimore to see about the viability of expanding business to Maryland. He moved his family to Catonsville and Westinghouse set up offices in a wing of the Friendship Airport (Now BWI Marshall) until a plant was built in Linthicum, MD. He retired in 1992 after an exclusive career with Westinghouse as a Scientific Engineer and later Project Manager where he earned many patents and awards for his work. During his career he worked on the development of gyroscopes, the Gemini and Apollo space programs, the Lunar Landing Module Hook-up, Doppler radar for Weather, Military, and Airports, AWAC radar for the Military, and Portable Ground Field Radar among other projects. His work took him to California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Massachusetts, and overseas to South Korea and Argentina. After retirement, Mr. Roese volunteered at Maryland Public Television in the Viewer Services Department weekly for many years. He enjoyed researching and finding the answers to the variety of questions viewers would call or write in asking about. Mr. Roese was well known for his dry wit and sense of humor. He and his family were longtime members of the Catonsville community and he actively participated in the Catonsville United Methodist Church. He was a past President and member of the National Exchange Club in Catonsville, and helped to build their Fourth of July Parade Floats and run their Track Meets. David served as vice-chairman of fundraising to build the Western YMCA on South Rolling Road in Catonsville and supervised in the construction of the building. He participated with his son’s Cub Scout Troop at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, and took over management of the Catonsville Model Rocket Club where he helped the children build their rockets, then launch them on what is now CCBC property. He and his wife were longtime members of the Catonsville Cotillion Dance Group and several Bridge Groups. They were supporters of the Annapolis Brass Quintet and served for several years as Host and Hostess of the receptions following the concerts until the Quintet disbanded. He and his wife enjoyed travel in Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean, sailing, boating, camping and RVing. Assateaque Island State Park was a particular favorite. Since 1983 he was also a longtime summer resident of Bethany Beach at Tuckahoe Acres. After moving to Severna Park, David and his wife became members of the Severna Park United Methodist Church where he helped build a special prayer chapel within the church. He later was a resident in Heartlands Assisted Living for several years, before moving in with his daughter and son-in-law and nursing aid, Galyena Bilyayeva in Chestertown, MD. He is survived by two daughters, Karen Roese of Catonsville, MD and Cassandra R. Fedas and her husband John of Chestertown, MD; one son Craig Roese of Catonsville, MD; a sister Jean Phelps and her husband John of Pittsburg, PA; a brother Paul Roese and his wife Beverly of Naples, FL; two sister-in-laws, Betty Marinas of Morris Plains, NJ and Nancy Stenstrom of North Sutton, NH; numerous cousins, eleven nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Great Oak Manor B & B, 10568 Cliff Rd. Chestertown, MD on July 16, 2008 at 1PM. A graveside service will be held on July 17, 2008 at 1:00PM Lake View Memorial Park, 2724 Liberty Rd. Sykesville, MD 21784. In Lieu of Flowers the family asks that donations be made to Hospice of Queen Anne’s County, 255 Comet Dr. Centreville, MD 21617 or the Mosaic Community Rehabilitation, 20 Winters Lane, Catonsville, MD 21228. Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, 130 Speer Rd., Chestertown, MD 21620. Online condolences may be made to www.fhnfuneralhome.com

David W. Roese

November 24, 1925 - July 6, 2008