VLS Mourns Alumnus John E. Roberts, Jr. '68
It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of John E. Roberts, Jr. '68, of Coopersberg, Pennsylvania and Little Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, on Friday, January 4, 2013 after an arduous battle with MDS and Acute Myeloid Leukemia at the age of 69.
Born in Evanston, IL Roberts and his brother, Bill, were raised on airbases around the world before his family finally settled in Philadelphia, PA after his pilot father was lost in action during the last mission of the Korean War. Roberts went on to graduate from Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, PA, Villanova University in 1965 and Villanova Law School in 1968. Following graduation from law school, he began his legal career as Associate Counsel at GAC, Allentown for two years before going into private practice with The Honorable Edward Cahn, Esq., where he later became partner. Over the course of his career Roberts' partners included Thomas Traud '70, Thomas Wallitsch, Ronald Corkery and Angelo Almonti.
Roberts' contributed to his community by serving as the Lehigh County Solicitor, Upper Saucon, Weisenberg Township Solicitor, CLE and the Police Academy lecturer, and Southern Lehigh School Board member.
Roberts was a competitor who played as hard as he worked, and would have been the first to say that he never lost a round of golf, softball, hoops, poker, Trivial Pursuit, debate or court case. He was an avid sportsman and angler who loved fish at the Jersey shore, and co-founded the Legal Eagles softball and basketball teams in Allentown. He loved skiing and began scuba diving as a child along the shores of his beloved Ocean City, New Jersey.
Roberts is survived by his beloved wife of almost 30 years, Linda, his children, John E. Roberts III (Paula), Kathryn Roberts (Mahdi Bourhim) and Andrew C. Roberts, two step children, James G. Hutchinson III (Michele) and Sara E. Hutchinson, seven beautiful grandchildren, Renee, Samuel, Alexander, Anna, Amir, Alexander and Samantha, brother, William J. Roberts and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and many, many young people to whom he has always been "Uncle John". Be of good cheer, that's what he would have wanted.
A Memorial service was held on January 10, 2013 at Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, in Allentown, PA. In lieu of flowers please make donations to BeTheMatch.org, Leukemia Society or your local blood bank.
