Tim Roche:  

(Disclaimer : Read at your own risk. Extremely strange and most of the time extremely boring) But it is what it is and I can't do much about that. Life (The early years) - 1957 to 1970 I moved from Gibbstown , New Jersey (yes I said New Jersey; don't hold it against me) in the early 70's to Largo, Florida. I'm almost certain that no one remembers me from Gibbstown, (population before we moved was 10) exactly the number of people in my family. When I moved away to Florida, I was attending Greenwich Township grade school (now known as Broad Street Elementary) in Gibbstown and was in the 6th grade at the time. I have 8 brothers / sisters (oldest to youngest) The Roche Kids: Brian, Shaun, (Jimmy; deceased), Tim yep that's me, Colleen, Todd, Kathy and (Darren; deceased). My parents names were Norm and Ann Roche. We lived on Troy Avenue in Gibbstown. I don't know what high schools you may have gone to in the area. Maybe you went to either St. James HS or Paulsboro High School.; let me know if you remember me, which high school you attended. Married 30 years to Lori (My Love, My Savior) daughter Amanda (27), son Matthew (21). I had a really hard time moving away from everyone since I lived with everyone from Gibbstown, New Jersey. What I really miss was the opportunities to one day become the mayor of our great town. I was next in line for the mayor ship at the age of 7. Typical example of my life, just when I get that years "hand me downs", we move away to balmy stormy and hurricane ridden) Florida. I had the opportunity to boss around my brothers and sisters for a whole year, a WHOLE YEAR as mayor and just like that, my life's hopes and dreams were snatched away from me. Life sucks sometimes. (Just trying to be funny) Life in the early 70's Skipped the 7th grade (I still want that year back!!) and attended the 8th grade at Oakgrove Middle school in Clearwater, FL. Then it was off to Largo High School, the hottest school ever; let me clarify "hottest school" NO AIR CONDITIONING! Who ever heard of educating the youth of the 70's (In the State of Florida, by packing 3000 of Floridas' brightest youth into a school where the average "feels like" classroom temperature (on a cool day) was over 150 degrees. We were all well behaved students since we spent most of the school day passed out from heat stroke. Thus the need for school nurses and Medical Doctors specializing in "heat stroke". Thank god most teachers graded on a curve. You can't learn a damn thing when your unconscious. Instead of ringing the bell at the end of class, teachers would just yell FIRE throw a bucket of water on all of us, and yell at all of us to get "Get A Move On!" In fact, it was rumored many years later that one of the Largo High School students (class of '76), actually invented what is now affectionately known as the Air Conditioner. In fact, we could wear shorts, flip flops and muscle shirts (girls were allowed to wear tank tops and mid drift tops) OOH LA LA!. Let me tell you, back in the 70's this was very controversial and according to the School Board, very provocative. But that was the 70's way of dressing provocative. The School Board couldn't do anything about our dress code since we didn't have air conditioning. HA ! Life in the late 70's I finally came to my senses and moved away to college at the age of 18. First in my family to pull up stakes and move to another state to attend college. (I received a "get the heck out of town scholarship). Spent college years in Tennessee attending East Tennessee State Univ. Had to sew my oats and escape from the large family dis-functionality, so I packed up and left for college at 18. Had a wild time in the mountains and loved the state of TN. Was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and learned to party with the mountain boys. Luckily I had two Largo Grads with me (Doug Loefler and Bill Mooney). Yes banjo playing, moonshine 'guzzling' boys from the Appalachian mountains. Drunk or not, for some strange reason all my fraternity brothers could recite the Greek alphabet. I lived on campus, boy that was a huge mistake. Seems everyone who lived in any state other than Tennessee (North Carolina, Georgia, West Virginia, Florida, you name it) was assigned to the worst housing on campus. The most run down dump of a dorm on campus. I guess the students from Tennessee (in state students) got the best accommodations. We, the "out of stater's" were considered second class citizens, who, by the way, paid the highest tuition and received the worst living arrangements the university had to offer. Although considered a second class student, once my Tennessee buddies found out that I hailed from the great Sunshine state of Florida, I had more friends than I knew what to do with. I had to start a "waiting list" for friends to see which two buddies would drive home with me (during spring breaks) to experience all the best Florida had to offer. We all needed a break and couldn't wait to see the beaches, the golden Florida babes and to get the heck out of their own states and for me to get home for awhile . I enjoyed many a Thanksgiving with my mountain buddies. The best part of giving thanks that day was the strawberry pie and the freshly brewed moonshine kept in Pepsi bottles in a shed behind the house. Moved back to Florida in 1980. Camping and Fishing are my favorite Florida things to do. Any water sports within limits. Life in the 80's - 90's My biggest surprise in life is that I am still at it (despite my handicap), looking for fun and finding it. Have learned to be a great dad and husband to my kids and wife Lori. Enjoyed my career in banking and finance and having traveled to many places around the globe, however my best place to be is Maui. I took out a life insurance policy so I could return someday. My wife knows that when I kick the bucket, this policy is for cremation services and round-trip air fair with the best accommodations for her and my two great kids to visit Maui and spread my ashes. This will take care of my final wishes and she and the kids can get a really great trip to Hawaii out of the deal. Have you ever heard such B.S. in your life? My saddest, life changing event, so far in my life was the loss of two of my brothers (in two years, one after another) to juvenile diabetes. They were my closest buddies and I miss them. After a long and sometimes continuing period of grieving, I decided to lighten up and live life as a gift to both of them. They died much too young and left behind a great sister in law (Sue) and 4 wonderful kids (nieces and nephews). My greatest, and God given, life changing event in my life thus far, marrying my sweetheart, my wife. She is the greatest person I know, I "get her" and she "gets me". She is all about what is right, what is just, being fair as well as charitable to others. Lucky guy, right? Well I found out that's really the way to live and I love it. Do onto others as you would have others do onto you is my life. If you've gotten this far in my life's story, here is where I'm at: Unfortunately due to a bank robbery (as Bank Manager), genetic spinal issues and a back braking fall from my roof, 6 back surgeries and 17 yrs of chronic pain. I am disabled. I refuse to let this keep me down. I hope and pray , although a devout Catholic, that stem cell research will someday give me my legs back. I have had 17 years of pure hell since 1992; and my family has suffered right along with me as well. But with 17 years of therapy from the best psychiatrist money can buy, he has helped me put things into perspective. To look beyond what I am dealing with and remember that things could be much worse. I have my days, however, I am updating my profile to let people know the whole story. I have fought back from the brink of hell and it has made me a better person because of it. A survivors attitude has always been deep inside me, but I lost it for a decade or so. Now it's back and better than ever. You never know what life has in store for any of us. The grief is always replaced with an appreciation for what you have. But I'm not telling anybody who has lived as long as we all have anything new. I always wanted to be a comedian when I grew up. Let's face it, my family and friends thought that was a crazy idea. As it turns out, they were crazy themselves. Growing up as #4 child of 8 was my greatest accomplishment before the age of 18. There is no better training to be a comedian then to grow up as a middle child of 8 in a very dysfunctional Catholic ...Expand for more