Obituary of Robert M. Roecker

Dr. Robert M. Roecker, 87, of Reservoir Rd. in Geneseo, died Thursday, January 7, 2010 at the Livingston County Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Mt. Morris, NY. He is survived by his wife Marian Rupp Roecker, daughter, Carol (David) Glebe of Amherst, NY, sister in law, Nancy Rupp of Newmarket, NH, cousins, Allan Maar of Grand Ledge, MI, Dorothy Forster of Buffalo and Ruth Meyer of Starkville, MS. He was born November 30, 1922 in Buffalo, NY the son of William and Edna Maar Roecker Jr. Bob graduated from East High School in Buffalo before serving in the US Army during World War II in the South Pacific. He graduated from Cornell University in 1947 and completed his PhD there in 1050. Bob was a fishery biologist for 12 years with the New York State Conservation Department in Scottsville before joining the Biology Department as a professor at the State University of New York at Geneseo. As a faculty member at Geneseo, he acquired preserved vertebrae collections and maintained living animals in the Biology Department. His contact with students on his many field trips were highlights of his teaching career. Bob was a member of the American Fisheries Society, Wildlife Society, American Society of Ichthyologists, American Society of Mammalogists and the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Mammals and reptiles Bob collected while in the South Pacific are now in the Smithsonian Institute's preserved specimen section. Upon his retirement in 1983, Bob continued to maintain a live animal collection at the college. Bob enjoyed duplicate bridge, gardening, fishing at his cottage in Canada, flea markets and travel. No prior calling hours. Memorial Services will be held Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. at the United Methodist Church in Geneseo with Rev. Keith Griswold officiating. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Geneseo United Methodist Church, 4520 Route 63, Geneseo, NY, 14454 or to Nature Conservancy, 1048 University Ave., Rochester, NY, 14607.