- Date Of Birth: September 5, 1917
- Date Of Death: February 12, 2011
- State: Arizona
Joseph Charles Rolle “Joe” died at the age of 93 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Joe was a long time resident of Flagstaff, AZ where he spent over 35 years with Northern Arizona University.
Joe is a native to Arizona born September 5, 1917 in Bisbee, AZ to Charles and Mary Rolle. He ventured to Flagstaff in 1937 to attend what was then known as Arizona State Teachers College where he was student body president and played numerous sports. He graduated with a BA in 1941 and began gathering additional degrees throughout his career that include a Master of Arts from NAU, Ed.S. from Columbia University and finally a Doctor of Humane Letters from Northern Arizona in 1980.
Joe married Marie Morfeld on December 26 1942 in Brownwood, TX. Joe was shipped overseas to the Pacific during World War II just one month later and served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army.
His career at NAU started in 1947 when he became the bookstore manager. He subsequently held many other positions that included Dean of Students until his retirement in 1982. Awards included Homecoming dedicatee, NAU Sports Hall of Fame, NAU Alumni Outstanding Board member, The Board of Regents Award for Outstanding Service to Higher Education and many others. He was also proud to award scholarships that include the McDonald/Rolle Scholarship, the Joseph C. Rolle Outstanding Basketball Trophy that has been awarded for the last 52 years and most recently the Joseph C and Marie M. Rolle Award for Excellence.
Joe has been an active member of the community through Nativity Church, Arizona Boys State Board of Directors, NAU Boosters Club, member of the Arizona Screening Committee for the Air Force Academy, Elks Club and always a part of the NAU Alumni Board.
He is survived by his wife Marie of 68 years, his children Charles Joseph Rolle and his wife Julie B. Rolle of Sedona, AZ, Jo Anne Rolle Harper and her husband R. Steven Harper from Scottsdale,AZ, and Randi Rolle and her husband Doug Umlah from Flagstaff, AZ. His son Lawrence Michael (Murphy) predeceased him in 1989 in a military helicopter crash. He is also survived by his two sisters Mary Bennett and Louise Hawkins in the Phoenix area.
