illiam J Rolf, 81, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2017 at South Bay Hospital in Sun City Center Florida, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. 

Family

He is survived by his children William Jeffrey Rolf, Robert Rolf and Eva (Rolf) Airhart, 8 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, his sister Ruth (Rolf) Janson, Niece Judy (Janson) Lowery, Nephews Robert (Bob) Janson and Howard Berliner. He was preceded in death by his parents Percy Rolf and Elsie Shmeider, his sister Marion (Rolf) Berliner, and his long-time companion Jan Hartman.

Military

William is a veteran of the United States Navy-USNR.  He served active duty as a Lieutenant JG from January 1959 to December 1962, as a CIC Watch Officer and Radio Communication Traffic Chief on the USS Noble. He then continued his reserve status, training sea cadets, at the United States Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Training Centers Canton and Columbus Ohio, until December 1964.

Life

William was born in Cincinnati, OH. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Business Administration. He was a member of Christ Presbyterian Church of Canton, where he served as an Elder. He worked for Ohio Bell and as a travel agent before retiring to Florida. William was a loving, giving and kind individual.  He was an active member of Ashton Gardens, where he started and directed their choir. He directed and performed his last concert this past December.

Bay Pines National Cemetery 

He will be interred at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg Florida. The family will arrange a private memorial service in Canton Ohio at a later date.

Special Acknowledgements

Memorial donations may be made to either the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, or to Rock Steady Boxing of Canton Ohio, whose mission is to empower people with Parkinson ’s Disease to fight back through a non-contact boxing fitness program.  Their address is 1240 Dueber Ave SW, Canton OH 44706