Father Richard Roach, pastor of St. John Vianney Catholic Church on Vashon Island, died in the parish rectory on Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, after a long illness. With him were a good friend and fellow Jesuit, three members of the parish and his beloved dog Malcomb.

Richard Roach was born in Seattle on Oct. 12, 1934, and baptized as an adult at Blessed Sacrament Church on April 18, 1955, toward the end of his undergraduate years at the University of Washington.

Shortly after graduating, he joined the United States Air Force as a jet pilot, serving for three years before he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Sheridan, Ore., in September of 1958.

He pronounced his first vows as a Jesuit in 1960, studied philosophy at Mount St. Michael’s in Spokane, taught for three years at Jesuit High School in Portland and began theology studies in Toronto in 1966.

Father Roach was ordained a priest by Archbishop Thomas Connolly in Seattle on June 14, 1969. As a newly ordained priest, he began doctoral studies under the noted moral theologian Dr. Jim Gustafson at Yale University.

Father Roach returned to the Jesuit theology program in Toronto, this time as professor of moral theology. He taught at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., for almost 20 years and then spent a year as scholar-in-residence at Columbia University’s Catholic Campus Ministry before returning to the Seattle area, where he was a pastor of St. John Vianney Parish on Vashon Island since 1998.

Father Roach brought his great learning and intellectual energy to bear in the carefully prepared homilies he delivered each week at St. John Vianney, always providing longer written versions for those who wanted them.

“I never met a more knowledgeable Biblical scholar in my life. He was amazing,” said Mike Lande, the head of St. John Vianney’s Parish Council, adding that Father Roach took the parish to a whole different level regarding Biblical understanding and the teachings of Christ.

“I’ve known several Jesuit scholars. I think he was the best of those,” Lande added.

Father Roach deeply loved his parishioners and they returned his affection, caring for him and supporting him during the long months of his illness.

“He thought of the parish as his family,” Lande said.

In addition to his scholarly talents, Father Roach was a skilled listener, according to Constance Walker, the pastoral assistant for administration at the church.

“He was one of the most compassionate ‘confessors’ — one who counsels people who are hurting,” Walker said. “He always treated people in those situations with dignity. He was just a very humble and sincere person at heart.”

He loved the Catholic liturgy and looked forward to the opportunities to gather his parishioners at the daily Eucharist and especially at the weekly Saturday and Sunday Masses. One of his favorite ways of being with parishioners was a weekly discussion group during the time between Sunday Masses.

“One of his skills was that he was welcoming of people seeking their spiritual truth,” said longtime parishioner Laura Wishik.

A vigil will be held at 7:30 p.m. today, Nov. 12, and the funeral Mass of the Resurrection will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in the parish church of St. John Vianney on Vashon Island.

Gifts in honor of Father Roach may be made to the retirement fund of the Oregon Province of the Jesuits, P.O. Box 86010, Portland, Ore., 97286-0010.