Notes & asides.(George Roche)(Obituary)

* In place of a formal obituary of George W. Roche III, herewith a note from Ronald Trowbridge, a friend and longtime associate. Mr. Trowbridge, a scholar of English literature who served for many years as vice president of Hillsdale College, was close to Roche, and tells here the relevant story.

--WFB

George Roche died on May 5 at the age of 70. A longtime sufferer from diabetes, he had gone into a diabetic coma from which he never awoke.

What he did as president of Hillsdale College for 28 years was unique, in the true meaning of the word: He made Hillsdale what it had not been. He took it from being an obscure rural college to a national force, making it a leader both as an educational institution and as part of the conservative movement. He believed that ideas--not armies, not governments--ruled the world. To be sure, it was a team effort. But Roche was the resolute captain of the ship, and he set the course that we mates were eager to follow. Hillsdale's historic refusal to accept federal grants and loans sprang from deeply held convictions. And having denied federal intrusion, Roche proceeded to bring to the college greater financial support than Hillsdale had ever contemplated receiving from the Feds. And with that, he brought together the best faculty and the best students the college had ...