Michael C. Roth

Captain Michael C. Roth, USN (Ret.), 82, of Bowie MD, died at home on December 28 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born October 9, 1938 to Gertrude Kairies Roth and Charles Roth in Minneapolis, MN.  Mike was a 1956 graduate of De La Salle High School.  He attended St. Thomas College for one year before being appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in 1961.

Mike entered naval flight training in Pensacola, FL and received his wings of gold in December 1962.  His duty stations included VP-23, Brunswick, ME; VT-29 Corpus Christi, TX; Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA where he received a Master’s in Computer Science; USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier, Norfolk, VA;  VP-23, Patrol Wings Atlantic Staff and VP-44 Commanding Officer Brunswick, ME; Curricular Officer Naval Postgraduate School; Naval War College Newport, RI; Washington Navy Yard and Commanding Officer Data Automation Command, SF in Alameda, CA.  He retired from the Navy July 1, 1989.

Upon retirement, he worked at Martin Marietta Data Systems in Hayward, CA and held various positions as a PRC manager in Milwaukee, WI and Towson, MD.

Mike volunteered at many of his church parishes.  He was a Eucharistic minister/lector and served on the Finance Committee and various other committees.  He was president of St. Vincent de Paul Society in Castro Valley, CA and Bowie, MD.  He volunteered at the SVDP Soup Kitchen in Oakland, CA, washing pots and pans.  (Ruth said he never did that at home.)  He worked at SOME in Washington, DC serving food to the needy. 

His parents predeceased him, along with infant grandson Michael.  Mike is survived by his loving wife, Ruth; children Steve, Liz (Bill) Waller, Kristin (John) Weakland, and Margaret; grandchildren Eric and Tyler Roth, Matt (Michelle), Megan and Thomas Waller, Nicole Wilson, Logan and Mackenzie Weakland; brother Ed (Sharon) Roth, and sister Mary (Peter) Nielsen.

Mike was a Renaissance man who enjoyed telling a story, a loooong story.  Don’t spill the beans, but sometimes he was more entertaining to himself than to those listening.

His extreme delight for ice cream and whipped cream can be traced back to his teenage years working as a Soda Jerk in Minneapolis.  Have a big scoop of ice cream (with extra whipped cream), smile, enjoy and think of Mike fondly.

Since he had a love of maps and geography, as well as a keen sense of direction, he should not have a problem finding his way to Heaven!

Mike’s lasting legacy, he leaves behind a family that loves and supports each other.

Fly Navy!

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Pius X Church Bowie, MD https://spxbowie.org/give-now or Hospice of the Chesapeake https://www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving/donate-now/

A Catholic Mass and Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Mike will be interred at the Naval Academy Columbarium.