Phi Kappa Tau is deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Ross Roeder, Michigan Tech, and Michigan State ’58. Roeder was a Hall of Fame member, a Palm Award winner, and a Distinguished Trustee of the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation. He passed away on May 11th, 2021, at St. Anthony’s Hospital from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Roeder was born on February 25th, 1938, in Bay City, MI. He was a founding member of the Gamma Alpha chapter at Michigan Technological University. He later transferred to Michigan State and joined the Alpha Alpha chapter. Following a year on the Phi Kappa Tau staff, he earned an MBA at UCLA and served in Army Intelligence. His career was expansive; among other roles, Roeder held executive-level positions at Baskin-Robbins, Denny’s, and the NBA. He served as CEO of Fotomat, Federal Construction, and Smart & Final.
Roeder was generous with his time and treasure, especially to Phi Kappa Tau. He began his distinguished career as a Field Secretary on the Phi Kappa Tau staff. He was elected to the Fraternity National Council in 1983 and served to separate stints on the Foundation board, serving as chairman twice and as a member of the steering committee for the “Decision for Phi Kappa Tau” capital campaign in the early 1980s. For decades, Ross played critical roles, many behind the scenes, in defining the strategic direction of the Fraternity and Foundation. Roeder was honored with the Palm Award, the highest recognition of a Phi Tau alumnus in 2004 and the Centennial Convention in 2006, he received the Taylor A. Borradaile Award and became one of the inaugural members of the Hall of Fame.
Roeder was involved in several other organizations including the Bayfront Hospital, St. Peterburg Area YMCA, the Michigan Tech board, and the Coast Guard Foundation. Michigan Tech’s Board of Trustees awarded him the Silver Medal and in 2012 he was presented with the Spirit of Hope award at the Pentagon.
Roeder is survived by his wife, Mary Anne Reilly, his daughter and son-in-law, two grandchildren, two brothers-in-law, and many relatives and friends.
A mass will be held on Wednesday, May 19th, at 4pm at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 1376 Snell Isle Blvd, St Petersburg FL. Full details here.
