Jason Christopher Roach

On February 7, 2024, the world lost a bit of its sparkle, kindness, intelligence, and humanity. Jason Christopher Roach, born July 16, 1975, passed away suddenly after a short battle with cancer. 

A lifetime resident of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, he graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School in 1993 and Youngstown State University in 1998. It was in elementary school that he first found his love of the saxophone, which he pursued through high school, college and beyond. He was a member of the Marching Tiger Band, YSU Marching Band, and also the Pride Alumni Marching Band. Most recently, he enjoyed playing tenor saxophone in the Bethany Band, the Riverfront Community Band, and participated several times at the annual Saxophone Christmas event.  It was his college years that gave rise to his collection of penguins, the YSU mascot.   

Employment history includes SeaWorld of Ohio, Woodridge Local Schools, Office Max, and Alltel Publishing.  His latest vocations were Digital Design Manager at Proforma and Technology Coordinator at Bethany United Church of Christ. Jason began attending Bethany UCC in first grade and was also confirmed there. He enjoyed the saxophone quartets he created with just himself and the choir director playing!  He was active in planning the church’s 100^th anniversary celebration in 2019 and was innovative in exploring ways to facilitate services during Covid, allowing many to enjoy worship without physically attending church and enriching the services onsite, as well. It was these efforts and more that led to his becoming Technology Coordinator. 

Always an outdoorsman, Jason achieved Life Rank in Boy Scouts of America. He was an active participant of the NE Ohio Geocachers with over 7,000 finds and sponsoring 67 hides. TheUglyBug, as he was known, entertained many with his cleverly-written log posts. He hosted 19 events for fellow cachers, including the annual “W.E.S.T.” cookout, and co-hosted the popular “Soup-er Game Night” where attendees enjoyed a soup competition and board games.  “Happy Hikers” since 2007, Jason and his BFF hiked the trails of the Summit County Metro Parks participating in the annual Fall Hiking Spree.  The shields on their hiking staffs are impressive! A big kid at heart, Jason had an admirable collection of nostalgic Transformers and enjoyed games of all kinds. He regularly gathered with friends to play games, socialize and even compete in tournaments. 

He loved to cook, grill, and smoke, always exploring new methods, recipes, and ingredients. Close friends were gifted with some of Jason’s homemade fudge in December which he personally delivered far and wide. 

Jason was also well known for his creativity, most notably his elaborate Halloween costumes and decorated campsites that he designed and built with a fellow cacher and good friend for the annual Geobash. He loved and was inspired by Christmas. Every year, he turned his living room into what he called a winter wonderland, proudly showcasing his collection of penguins. He dazzled onlookers as he transformed his childhood home into a gingerbread house, dubbing himself The Outdoor Illumination Specialist. There wasn’t a light that he couldn’t fix.  From the time he got his first boom box, the family, whether you were physically with him or not, was woken up on Christmas morning by a blaring John Williams/Boston Pops rendition of “Joy to the World” to begin the festivities.

      Jason was everybody’s go-to technology guy.  If he didn’t know the answer, he would research to discover a solution. He was a thoughtful gift giver, always choosing the perfect gift for each recipient.  Blessed with a beautiful way with words, he often wrote tributes to family and dear friends on their birthday which buoyed them up for quite a while.  Jason was selfless, genuine, supportive, giving, creative, intelligent, talented and funny. Above all, he was loving, kind and compassionate. He was dedicated to those he loved and touched the lives of every person that had the pleasure of knowing him. Written in a copy of Tom Sawyer in Jason’s favorite Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, is the quote “no man is a failure who has friends”. Jason is, without a doubt, a testament to that. Yes, it IS a wonderful life but, for him, it was just too short.

Jason leaves to grieve his passing his parents Brad and Suzanne Roach; sister and brother-in-law Tamara and Tim Urasek, beloved niece and nephew Julia and Tyler Urasek, dear friend Aimee Cooper, several aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends. In the words of Glinda and Elphaba from the musical, Wicked, “because I knew you, I have been changed for good”.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 9th, 2024, at Bethany United Church of Christ, 1235 Broad Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio at 11:00 am. Visitation will be from 10:00 am to 11:00. A luncheon will follow the memorial service.

If you wish, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.  Suggestions include Pride Alumni Marching Band, Bethany United Church of Christ, and Riverfront Community Band.