Craig Roche
August 30, 1949 - November 18, 2008

Thomas Craig Roche, a resident of Oklahoma City, passed away at home on Tuesday, November 18, 2008, at the age of 59. Craig was born August 30, 1949 in Patterson, New Jersey, the son of Chester B. Roche and Betty Jo Roy Roche. Craig was raised in Gardener, Massachusetts and graduated from Mt. Hermon School in Gill, Mass. He also attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. He served his country in the United States Air Force. Craig is in partnership at Galileo's Restaurant in the Paseo District. He was actively involved in the local music and arts scene in Oklahoma City and was a huge supporter of the revival of the Paseo District. He was a big supporter of local bands and artists. Craig was also an antique and vintage car enthusiast and an avid Red Sox fan. He is survived by his wife Carol, brother David Roche and his loving family at Galileo and Isis including his Red Sox. A celebration of Craig's life will be held at Galileo Bar and Grill, 3009 Paseo, Oklahoma City at 8 p.m., Thursday, November 20, 2008.

Back in September, 2008 we learned that the Led Balloon Jug Band had been selected to perform on campus May 2 during the dedication of the new Rhodes Arts Center, which has been built on the site of Recitation and Silliman Halls. The "rhythm section" of the band ( Jim McBean, Dick Upson, and Will Melton) began rehearsing in Providence, developing some new material and arguing about how to mount a tour that would include Craig Roche’s nightclub "Galileo" in Oklahoma City, Bruce Burnside’s recording studio in Wisconsin, and Memphis, where jug bands once ruled Beale Street. Then came the shocking news of Craig's death. Now, the show will go on, in part as a celebration of Craig's life and the music he so loved.

In the meantime, your class leaders were hatching an idea. Since 2009 is the year many, if not most, of us turn 60, we thought we might want to get together for a Mini-Reunion/Birthday Party at some convenient time in '09, perhaps even on campus. Since there was no one who liked a party any more than Craig, it seemed only fitting that we combine the two events and hold our get-together on Trustees Weekend, May 1 & 2, 2009, as the Led Balloon Jug Band serenades the NMH community. So that's what we're going to do. And we think Craig would have wanted it that way.

11/20/08 -- I thought you might an enjoy a story about Craig (which I shared with his niece). I was in Oklahoma City a few years ago on business. The television in my hotel room was pre-set to a channel that ran ads for local businesses, including Craig's restaurant. I happened to glance at the tube at the moment he was pitching his place. I stopped by the restaurant for drink without calling first. He walked in, fiddled around at the bar for a moment, saw me, and without missing a beat, and with that little smile of his, said "Bradley Waterman . . . what the hell are you doing here?" I figured that it would have taken him a least a moment or two, if only because I was out of place and also because I don't look much like I did 4,000 years ago when we were in school. -- Brad Waterman

11/20/08 -- Let's raise a glass (or whatever your imbibement of choice is) and celebrate the joy and laughter that "Tony" ALWAYS gave us. We are all a little less whole today. Craig will be with us always. -- Buddy Levine

11/22/08 -- I just got home and the news about Craig. We all are shunned with his passing. I was playing the night of the celebration and, looking back, there is something right about me doing that. I will always see the exuberant, bugged eyed, mischievous smile that Craig was able to pour all over me, accompanied by every thing from Frank Zappa's music to Upson's humor. I just want to make sure that all of you know how honored I felt and will always feel that Craig was willing to share his high level of musical energy with me and us all. Here, in this parting sadness, I see Craig is among us all, spreading his perfectly timed quips with his perfectly expressive face. I am very thankful we had our recent times together. -- Bruce Burnside

11-22-08 -- (Addressed to the members of the Led Balloon Jug Band) Dear band, I got the news on Thursday morning, just before leaving for my weekly job at the child care center, where I go around to different rooms to perform music for kids. It was hard to put any spirit into it, knowing that Craig was gone and the whole blessed jug band would never be reunited again. I wondered why he had to leave us when he still had so much music left in him. He was so talented -- the only member of both the Led Balloon and the Hermon Knights. I loved Craig's good nature; I never heard him say an unkind word.
I saw him at the 1977 reunion, when he bought me a drink and we talked about his ambition to become a journalist. We didn't meet again for 25 years, but he was the same old Craig I had always known. Here's a photo of Craig that he sent me in 2005, when he had his head shaved to raise money for St. Baldrick's, an organization that supports research for children's cancer. Said Craig: "I haven't had a bald head but once before, and that was during my induction into the US Air Force in 1969. I am sure you'll agree that this is for a much better cause."
He mentioned that the restaurant he co-owned, Galileo Bar & Grill, had recently wrapped up its 7th and most successful year. He had also remodeled a coffeeshop and reopened it as an upscale, sexy cocktail lounge, Isis, that offered hookahs and flavored tobaccos. After we all met again in June 2007, I sent a an email of appreciation to everyone for another great reunion and another set of memories to ponder for the next 5 years. I praised Craig for his constant dedication to surmounting obstacles in order to get his washtub bass to the stage, and wrote: "When I think about it, I realize you are among the handful of people I still know whom I met more than 40 years ago. That by itself makes your continued friendship a treasure that can't be replaced. But what magnifies it is our shared love of music, entertainment, the old school, and the memories of our glory days with the band. What cements it is that we have all created fulfilling careers that are still on the upswing.
I think it says a lot that we were able to meet again despite the personal tragedies that dominate some of our lives. I believe our friendship is strong enough so that we will continue to meet and play our music until the last of us is standing." When I wrote those words, I didn't even imagine that one of us might not make it to the next reunion. Ironically, Craig died the day after I got my plane ticket to fly to Boston for the May 2 concert. It is a huge loss and the band can never be the same. Craig was our heartbeat, our cheerleader and our court jester. My only consolation is that I think he lived the life he wanted, and he made a lot of other people happy in the process. -- Max Millard

11/23/08 -- (To Will Melton, who supplied many of the pictures seen on this page, several of which were taken by Joel Bartlett.) Thanks, Will, for assembling this great collection of pictures and thanks, Bruce, for your poetic remembrance "mischievous smile that Craig was able to pour all over me". Craig's mischief was always welcomed; never malevolent - a very special talent. -- Tracy Ambler

11/23/08 -- In addition to Craig's already mentioned wit and personality should be added mention of his boundless and abiding curiosity. I remember a rambling walk we took senior year when I came to realize that, while I'd been keeping my head down chasing grades and getting "schooled", Craig had been getting educated, following his muse, reading broadly and voraciously, thinking rather than memorizing, full of ideas and opinions that shocked and amazed me both because of their scope and scale, but more importantly, because of their originality. Craig always had an originality and integrity that demonstrated a particular courage: he was forever and always himself. -- Chris Crosby

11/23/08 -- Dick “Jug Head” Upson’s blues blog has a tribute to his buddy Craig Roche. Upson's Blog . Jug and I got together yesterday for a rehearsal with Jim and Susan McBean and lifted a glass to Mr. Kite afterwards. My last email to Craig reported Jug’s big news that one of his horror screen plays has gotten picked up by a European film producer, and the Italian wants more stories. I never heard back from Craig, but I know he was as pleased for Upson as I am. Led Balloon has been engaged to play at NMH for the opening weekend of the new Rhodes Art Center (built on the site of Recitation Hall), and we will be doing the performance in his memory. The date is Saturday, May 2. We’ll send a reminder with time and details. Join us if you can for the tribute event. -- Will Melton

11/24/08 -- It’s been several days since I first opened the e-mail with the sad news of Craig’s passing. It is still hard to fathom it. He was such a vibrant person (captured by all your shared memories and photographs). As we all stress over turning 60, it certainly gives one pause to reflect on one of us who will not make it. I didn’t know Craig as well as all of you did, but just to think of him brings a smile to my face. Finally, doing the performance in May in his memory is an excellent idea. With thoughts and prayers for all who are grieving….especially his family. -- Samantha Schreiber

11/24/08 -- What Max wrote is just a beautiful testimony to Craig. I hope you send that on to Carol and other members of his family, Max, as I'm sure they would love to read more about how Craig impacted the lives of friends made so long ago. I feel so fortunate to have been able to be part of your June 2007 LBJB gathering and to have such fond memories of Craig and all of you. Among other intense missing-Craig times, his absence is REALLY going to be felt in early May when he won't be there with his heavy gloves, wash bin and funny side comments. You will feel very empty without him. Take care you all. I'll raise my glass and say a little toast to Craig on Thanksgiving and think of all of you. -- Deborah Wiggin Neff

11/24/08 -- Last week when I first heard the news, I felt dreadful. Here's what I wrote to Chris Crosby: "I'm hit pretty hard by Craig's death. Not sure why, other than the obvious, Craig was a special part of MHS for me. I could write pages, but to no purpose. We all know what an upbeat, funny, enjoyable person he was, and have indelible memories of him at MHS. I guess I'm stunned by the suddenness of it all, and feel like something really important to me has been ripped away." It would be good if there was a way we friends and alums could share the loss together. Probably at some point in the future a celebration of his life will work, but for me, right now, it's just huge sadness. Over the past few days, there have been a messages from classmates, each remembering Craig in a positive way. I'm surprised to find myself saying we HAVE found a way to mourn together, and to get past the sadness of it all. Thank you all, for your remembrances of Craig. I seem to remember a canal of water that worked its way through Crossley, and a kind classmate who took time out of a reunion to encourage my son to attend NMH (he did). Keep the remembrances flowing. I'm going to mark May 2 on the calendar. I missed our last reunion, and this is a pointed reminder that we cannot assume our NMH friends will make it to our next one. I made contact with Carroll Bailey, who, of course, remembered Craig well. If anyone wants his (or Elaine's) email address, or phone, get back to me. -- Gary Barnes

11/25/08 -- Wiggin asked about Mr. Kite. Craig never told me how he came to adopt it as his email handle, but it matched his zany musical personality to a “t”. Below are the lyrics and the story behind the song. A jpg of John Lennon’s vintage poster that inspired the song is attached. Also attached is the album cover picture of Led Balloon (photo by Dick Stoller), which has a classic Craig Roche angle. When we were working up the album images, Craig came up with a scheme whereby he’d dress all in black, then kneel on his knees so he’d look like a very short member of the band. He forgot to turn his body so his legs wouldn’t show, however, so the visual stunt didn’t quite work. Last year I made a photo-shopped version for him that erased his legs and completed the stunt.

From Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
For the Benefit of Mr. Kite by John Lennon

For the benefit of Mr. Kite
There will be a show tonight on trampoline
The Hendersons will all be there
Late of Pablo-Fanques Fair, what a scene
Over men and horses hoops and garters
Lastly through a hogshead of real fire!
In this way Mr. K. will challenge the world!
The celebrated Mr. K.
Performs his feat on Saturday at Bishopsgate
The Hendersons will dance and sing
As Mr. Kite flies through the ring don't be late
Messrs. K and H. assure the public
Their production will be second to none
And of course Henry The Horse dances the waltz!
The band begins at ten to six
When Mr. K. performs his tricks without a sound
And Mr. H. will demonstrate
Ten somersets he'll undertake on solid ground
'ving been some days in preparation
A splendid time is guaranteed for all
And tonight Mr. Kite is topping the bill.

The song's title comes from a standard 19th century phrase used in advertising testimonial performances in Britain -"Being for the benefit for." John Lennon acknowledged the lyrics were derived almost word for word from the wording of an Victorian circus poster he took from a cafe during the filming of promotional clips for the "Penny Lane"/"Strawberry Fields: record. All-round performer William Kite worked alongside Pablo Fanque and wire-walker/clown/trampolines the Hendersons in 1843. All the characters in the song and the feats they would perform, came directly from this poster (see attached). Lennon said, "I was just going through the motions because we needed a new song for Sgt.Pepper.” It was going to come after the title track on the album, but they decided to use "With A Little Help From My Friends," sung by the fictional Billy Shears, so that the concept of the album would continue. It was rumored that "Henry The Horse" was heroin. "Horse" is slang for heroin, but Lennon denied that it was a drug reference. The horse is in the poster, but his name is Zanthus. Since the name Zanthus is not very musical, Lennon used the much better sounding name of Henry, making use of alliteration. George Harrison and Ringo Starr played harmonicas. It also featured a steam organ, which was taken from old tapes. George Martin revealed at a 2008 LA presentation for members of the National Recording Academy of Arts and Sciences one of his recording techniques for this song. The Beatles producer told engineer Geoff Emerick to cut up old tapes of organ music, threw them in the air and onto the floor and then reassembled them at random, running the new sounds concurrent with the song's main organ melody. -- Will Melton

11/25/08 -- I have heard from a few of Craig's friends from his Mount Hermon days, but I was thrilled to see so many addresses on this email. Craig's brother, David, is my father. Our family was devastated last week at Craig's very unexpected passing. I have shared all of the emails I've received with my dad, and he's been very happy to read them.
Craig had more friends than anyone I've known. And now, as an adult, I know why. He was fun and fun-loving. He never met a stranger - it would have been impossible for Craig to go someplace and not talk to the person next to him. As a child, I always thought Craig was cool. He lived far away from my home in Massachusetts. In Oklahoma! How exotic, as you had to fly there on a plane! He could play the guitar and always had a bunch of fun toys, even though he and his wife Carol had no children. He was the first person I knew to have a "big screen" television, a computer, a convertible (his beloved MG, which as I got older he let me drive, and I thought I was the cool one!), and more CDs and albums than a music store it seemed. He welcomed me for summer vacations for several years and we would always do fun things together. We went to the zoo, baseball games, and restaurants where I would sip Shirley Temples all night.
As an adult, I no longer thought he was cool. I knew it. He would email to tell me of a song I needed to hear or a movie I should see. He would read a great book and send me a copy. He was like my dad, but he wasn't. We shared a great love of reading, cooking, the Red Sox, John Hiatt, and Bruce Springsteen. He never treated me like a child. He never questioned when I decided to marry my husband very quickly after meeting him - he only congratulated and asked when he would be able to visit. He brought us a fabulous bottle of champagne when we were married and told us to save it for a special occasion. We still have it. When I had my own children, I could see the relationship I had with him as a child reemerging. When we would be together in New Hampshire on vacations or in Tennessee at my house, he would be on the floor playing with my boys or reading to them as he did me. It saddens me to know he never met my youngest child Jack.
We had a fabulous memorial for Craig Thursday night at his restaurant in Oklahoma City. There were literally hundreds of people there. I only hope Craig had any indication of the number of people he touched in his lifetime. There were many memories of Craig shared, great music, and lots of laughter. It was just as Craig would have wanted, right down to the sea of Red Sox shirts, jackets, sweatshirts, jerseys, hats, and the Red Sox flag flying proudly. Our family and all of Craig's friends will feel this loss for a long time. Our family thanks you so much for your thoughts during this difficult period. -- Kim Simpson (Craig's neice)

11/25/08 (To Will Melton) Thanks so much writing. We’re all shocked by the passing of Craig at such an early age. Craig had fond memories of his time at Mt Hermon and always looked forward to returning for the reunions. I know that I personally have lost contact with most of the people I attended prep school with and few people make the long term bonds Craig seemed to have. That was apparent at the celebration of his life we had last Thursday at his restaurant. I would have contacted some of you but his address book was not anywhere near what you could call current. I did try to e mail Bruce Burnsides and Jim McBean but the e mails got bounced back.
Craig apparently had a heart attack. Unfortunately the Roche family seems to have a bad gene that causes us all to have heart issues. I myself had a heart attack at 45 but have been doing fine since. Craig never had any indications prior to this that he too had that gene. He had felt nauseous Monday evening but attributed that to maybe having the flu, one of his co-workers just got over a bout of it, so he was not concerned. When Carol got up to get ready for work Tuesday she found him dead on the floor still dressed, having not gone to bed. That’s about all we know, but it was quick. My family is living in the greater Nashville area now. We moved here about three years ago to be nearer our oldest daughter when she started having kids so we could see our grandkids more often than a couple times a year. Wish we had left New England years ago, much nicer weather in TN. Since moving here I’ve bought a small package store and we’re having a good time with that.
Not sure about next May, I’d love to make it there but too early to know if that’s possible. I imagine I’ll be going back and forth to Oklahoma for a time to help Carol get squared away but I’ll keep it in mind. I’m glad my daughter managed to track someone down to get the word out to Craig’s friends from Mt Hermon. I’d be happy to hear from any of them in the future. -- David Roche (Craig's brother)
The Beer Stop
1821 McMinnville Hwy.
Woodbury, TN 37190
Business - 615-563-9955
Cell - 615-507-4351

11-28-08 -- Dear friends and classmates, In this time of great sadness, I thought some of you might want to read the official saga of the Led Balloon and Craig's role in it. I put this story together in 2002 with input from all the other band members, and got their approval for the final version before sending it to the NMH alumni magazine. Bruce Burnside provided many of the details. The magazine published a truncated version of the story. The full version can be found at: Max's Website -- Max Millard

1-23-09 -- This is the first I heard of Craig's passing, and I am sitting here crying. As his NMH girlfriend, I knew how special he was, and I fully agree with the comments on the web page. It's so hard to believe he's gone! He added so much to our lives...his love of music, his love of learning, his love of rabble-rousing and getting into mischief but never into real trouble. What a special guy. I am pleased that at that point in time he was part of my life, and he will truly be missed. -- Lois Robinson Eddy

1-25-09 -- I am also obliterated to hear of Tony Craig Roche's demise. I have had many surges in my memories* of him since I have only, hours ago, heard of the terrible news. I am only beginning to feel the void created by his passing. My deepest condolences to his family and all he touched. Nothing I can say more than Goodbye, Dear Friend!
*I orginally typed this as 'momomaries' which somehow to me means that Craig's impishness lives on in us! -- Storm Scott


Return to Home Page