Painted Post native Philip J. Roche is being hailed by community leaders and friends as a great contributor to Steuben County who will be remembered and sorely missed.
Roche, 69, died Wednesday, March 25, surrounded by family and friends following a recent diagnosis of rapidly progressing cancer.
Roche was a prominent local attorney who later served as Steuben County Public Defender and as Steuben County judge. He also served on the Steuben County Legislature, the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency, Southern Tier United Way, and many other boards. He was active in the Corning-Painted Post community serving as the Guthrie Corning Hospital Board Chairman where he was instrumental in the construction of a new hospital.
“First of all, Phil was a great man, a great leader and I am so sorry for his family,” said Joe Hauryski, a retired Steuben County Legislature Chairman who served on the board from 2007 to 2019. “He was my mentor. I served under Phil when he was the Steuben County Legislative Chair.
“He taught me so much. When I became Legislative Chair a couple years after he stepped down to become Steuben County Public Defender in 2012, I always went to him for advice, and he just had a way of being able to settle me down.”
Tom Tranter Jr., retired President of Corning Enterprise and a longtime colleague of Roche, called Phil a phenomenal individual and a great friend.
“He was a wonderful person, an outstanding community member and Steuben County leader for many, many years,” Tranter said. “Phil was a wonderful person, husband, father and friend to many. His commitment to the community and to the county was second to none. His leadership was incredible, and his wit and humor is second to none. He always had a smile on his face.”
Jamie Johnson, Steuben County Industrial Development Agency Executive Director since 2011, said Roche was instrumental in establishing the organization as Steuben County’s designated economic development group.
“Phil had been a representative of the IDA in one way, shape or form for over two decades,” Johnson said. “First as the Stueben County Legislative Chair, and then again as IDA board member. He served as my chairman after I was hired for many years. He was a dedicated public servant who was always working to do what he felt was best and right for the community. He was just set fast in that commitment. He was a great man.”
Jack Benjamin, who retired as president of Three Rivers Development in 2015, called Roche a very smart man who was a leader in many development processes.
“I knew Phil for 25 to 30 years and worked with him many times on projects in the Corning area,” Benjamin said. “He was Chairman of the Corning Hospital Board, and I was the Vice chairman. We worked closely together on many aspects of that project, from the new hospital being built to the redevelopment of the old hospital site. Phil definitely played a key role in making sure that work got done.”
Corning City Manager Mark Ryckman said Phil Roche was a true public servant.
“His leadership strengthened our region through his work in the legal community, advancing economic development, and improving the quality of healthcare,” Ryckman said. “His efforts will have a lasting impact.”
Steuben County Manager Jack Wheeler called Roche’s death a shocking, tragic loss.
“I first met Phil when he was chair of the Steuben County Legislature in the early 2000s. He then worked for us as Steuben County Public Defender for a number of years before becoming Steuben County Court judge,” Wheeler recalled. “So literally Phil left his mark on pretty much every aspect of Steuben County Government for well over two decades. It’s just a shocking loss.”
Steuben County Legislator Hilda Lando called Roche one of the nicest guys that people could ever meet.
“He was very fair,” Lando said. “It’s very sad that he died so, so young. He served his community well.”
Phil Roche, an attorney, began his professional career at a law firm in Painted Post which would later be named Yorio & Roche.
In 2012, he was appointed as the Steuben County Public Defender. He was elected as County & Family Court Judge for Steuben County in 2017, where he served until his retirement in 2024.
Calling Hours will be held 3-7 p.m. Monday at Haughey Funeral Home, In., 216 E. First St, Corning. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday St Catherine’s Church, 51 Maple St, Addison. Friends and family are welcome.
This article originally appeared on The Leader: Phil Roche, longtime Steuben County leader in many roles, dies at 69
Reporting by Jeff Smith, Corning Leader / The Leader
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
