Edward E Rochford

Edward Evans Rochford was born in his favorite season on December 17, 1937. A proud lifelong Newport resident, he was born and grew up in a home just a mile from where he later helped raise his own family and tend the “Rochford Ave” neighborhood.

Ed, “Roch,” was a 1957 graduate of Towle High School and some of his best high school memories were running track, playing football and making the best catch of his life in courting his high school sweetheart, Dianne Roe Rochford. They were married for 64 years.

As a high school sophomore he joined the U.S. Army National Guard. After high school he proudly served in the US Army as a Sergeant in the 197th Field Artillery Division, Ft. Bragg, NC. Those years in the military shaped a lifelong patriotism that guided him and which he also reflected outward. His involvement with Brewster Gould Lee Rollins Post 25, as a member and past commander- and the many friendships with comrades there- brought him a deep sense of purpose with a community that shared his love of, and service to, country.

He was a self-made and mentor-guided businessman, selling industrial coatings and traveling all around New England and upstate New York. Lacquered wood chips of different grain and color, baseball bats, paper plates, and golf tees were in his traveling office (i.e. trunk). Many looked to him for guidance about how to treat people in business. He retired from his decades- long career as the Executive Vice President with CE Bradley Laboratories, Inc., in Brattleboro, VT, where long-term customers and colleagues were better known as friends. He often said “I never worked a day in my life— when you love what you do, it’s not work.”

His Irish roots ran deep—in stories, values and songs (often sung in his beautiful tenor voice!). His Irish grit and wit were legendary. He could build a stone wall, make stacking wood look like art and take on any challenge with determination. He knew what his ancestors faced and he never took for granted the life he could live because of their faith and their bravery in leaving their homeland. The hospitality he learned from his parents meant there was always enough food to share and you should pull up a chair to enjoy it! St. Patrick’s Day was a national holiday in his family, and he took pride in Newport’s diverse immigrant roots.

He was a magnet who drew others to him—and which drew him to others. His Irish wit and laughter, his lifelong friendships and the many people he met in his travels made for incredible storytelling. Some of his legendary stories came from friendships that began in his youth. He could strike up a meaningful conversation with anyone, and he made finding ways to connect an artform. He loved mentoring others by sharing the life lessons he learned—whether through his work, as a veteran, on the slopes or with his family and friends. A team player and problem-solver by nature, people would look to him for advice. He was a keen judge of character and you knew the values he lived and loved by his well-worn t-shirts: Fort Bragg/US Army, Maine, skiing, Ireland, and always a good inside joke.

He didn’t want the focus to be on him and was humble about holding the school record for the 100-yard dash, playing in the NH/VT Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl, being inducted into the Newport Athlete Hall of Fame, being part of a group of Newport businessmen who came together to save Newport Hospital while envisioning how it could still serve the community, helping shape a Safety Services patrol at Mt. Sunapee, or funding a device that would humanely divert beaver from damaging property while protecting the ecosystem around the “Horseshoe,” his childhood fishing hole in town.

Never fully retiring until he was 80, he especially enjoyed his role--first as a volunteer and then as staff--for the Safety Services Team (“yellow jackets”) at his beloved Mt Sunapee. Sharing his love of winter, skiing, safety, the “skier’s code of conduct,” chocolates, and storytelling with his pack of fellow patrollers brought him great joy and lasting friendships. Skiing was in his blood, first learning on the small rope tow hill off Belknap Ave in Newport, then skiing at Mt. Sunapee when it first opened in 1948. He skied into his 80’s and found great joy in passing on the love of this sport to his family. His many stories from the slopes were later shared with family and friends by his treasured fireplace hearth where he was the expert fire starter and taught the rest of the family that skill. In his yard or on the mountain he had a deep connection to nature: trees, rocks, mountain tops, clouds, sunsets. “Come look at those clouds,” he’d call to his family. The turning of his favorite maple trees meant the ski season was getting closer, and he always greeted others by saying the number of days until the “projected” opening!

His life was defined by loyalty, leadership and generosity. His legacy is service, helping others and community—skills and values he learned and shared as a Boy Scout, a Mason of the Mount Vernon Lodge, a Shriner with the Bektash Temple, Veteran, Safety Services patroller, loyal friend, and most especially as a cherished Husband, Dad and Grandfather. The title given by his grandchildren, “Buppa,” was the most treasured title of all.

The North Star to his family, he was the ultimate caretaker and protector, often referring to “Boy Scout Ed’s” rules for life: don’t get below half a tank of gas, replace the flashlight batteries, watch out for black ice, have an emergency bag in your car, call when you get home. He filled car rides and ski vacations with songs by John Denver, Neil Diamond and Peter, Paul and Mary, often the songs that brought tears to his eyes. Though he was offered full football scholarships from two prestigious universities, and given the opportunity for officer training and a career in the Army, he chose to set down roots for his family. He leaves defining core values that ran deep: keep your word, show up, be loyal, look out for each other, be frugal, work hard, be grateful, look for ways you can help, never surrender. And remember to take time to enjoy a good chocolate-covered donut or chocolate chip cookie, a cold beer, a sunset overlooking Penobscot Bay, a star-filled night sky, the friendship with a loyal dog, a story with friends who are chosen family, or a next-to-the-last ski run on the mountain (“It’s never the last run,” he would say).

He was predeceased by his father, Leonard J. Rochford, his mother, Virginia (Graves) Rochford, his brother, Robert Rochford, and many close Irish cousins. He is survived by his wife Dianne Roe Rochford, Newport, NH; daughters Kelly Rochford (Kris Richardson), Grantham, NH and Kerry Rochford Hague (Alan “Buzz” Hague), Newport, NH; grandchildren Jaeda Rochford Hague and Percy “Pi” Rochford Richardson, both of Keene, NH; a niece, nephews and cousins.

He was released from a long illness on January 10, in the home he cherished, surrounded by love, stories and favorite ski songs. “It’s never goodbye, it’s always see you later,” as his dear father taught his family to say at any parting. You are invited to help us say ‘“see you later”’ by attending any of these farewell gatherings:

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Newport, NH on Saturday, February 7 at 1:00. A burial with military honors will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery. There will be a celebration of life reception at South Congregational Church, Newport, NH following the burial.
An Irish wake to raise a glass to Ed will be held later that evening at his favorite Salt Hill Pub, in Newport, starting at 7:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the LaValley Family Community Center for their Youth Track Program, 17 Meadow Road, Newport, NH 03773 or to the Society for the Protection of NH Forests, 54 Portsmouth St., Concord, NH 03301, or online at https://www.forestsociety.org/support-our-mission

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