In Memory

Robert Rohe - Class Of 1974

Robert Rohe



 
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08/03/10 01:05 PM #1    

Hal Dorsman (1974)

When I first moved to Rockville Bob just happened to sit across from me at study hall just before lunch.  Since I didn't know anyone and didn't know where else to go I just stayed at the same table for lunch and Bob started joining me and telling me about where everything was.  I guess I would have to say he was my first friend in Rockville.  It was through him I met Dave Dixon and it wasn't long before we all started playing chess together.  I remember when the chess team first started, Bob and I drew the first round playoffs.  I had played a lot of chess with my cousin when I was a kid so I beat Bob pretty badly.  He didn't take it very well.  I'm sure you remember how competitive he was.  He went out and got a bunch of chess books and started studying all the masters.  When his chance came up for a seat position challenge he killed me very badly. He was very proud of that.  I think he was always one seat above me in the team after that.  Never could keep up with his studying the masters.  I also remember when we used to go shooting mice in the dump behind his house.  I fear he was never a very happy person deep down.   It sounds like his life ended very tragically and that is very saddening. 


08/06/10 11:09 AM #2    

David Dixon (1974)

Bob was a very good friend of mine during our high school years.  I have many memories of him, but perhaps the one I recall most fondly pertains to a chess tournament in Indianapolis.  Bob, Hal Dorsman, Terry Van Winkle, and I, sometimes just the four of us and sometimes with others, represented RHS in a number of chess matches and tournaments, coached by Mr. Heber.  We had one of the best high school chess teams in western central Indiana.  (As I recall, only one school-- a much bigger Terre Haute school-- ever outplayed our team during our regular 1973-74 season.)  The four of us and Mr. Heber also went to several chess tournaments in Chicago and Indianapolis. 

As Hal has noted, Bob was very competitive when he played chess and certainly didn't like to lose.  He took the game very seriously, worked hard at it, and became very good.  In practice, Bob could usually beat me.  However, he seemed to get nervous in some of the major tournaments in which we played and sometimes, as a result, played below his potential.  At one tournament, Bob was especially unhappy at his own play.  Somehow, I had a particularly good (and probably a particularly lucky) day, placed high in the tournament, and won a trophy.  One could easily see him resenting me, someone whom he could usually beat doing so well when he had not.  Notwithstanding his frustration and disappointment with his own play on that day and the fact that we had been competitors of each other in the tournament, Bob seemed to be happier for my success that day than I was, myself.  His support for me on that occaision really meant a lot to me and showed me what a good friend he was. 


11/22/10 02:55 PM #3    

Bill Kidwell (1974)

Bob was a good friend growing up in high school. I remember being with him in band. He played the tuba and i played the trombone or at least I tried to. My best memory of Bob is when he, Dan Gaynor and my self all went fishing one morning after we were out of high school. Went to this farm pond (dont even remember where now). I do remember we caught about 70 small cat fish. Me and Dan did not want to mess with them so Bob took them all home to clean. He said it took him like 5 hours to clean them all. He was a good friend.


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