Reverend Monsignor Joseph R. Roth
17 January 1937 -
15 May 2011
(Brother Patrick Kieran 1956)
Reverend Monsignor Joseph R. Roth
Reverend Monsignor Joseph R. Roth, Pastor of St. Andrew
Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach, passed away Sunday, May 15,
2011. Monsignor Roth was born to Rudolph and Margaret Roth
in Jackson Heights, NY, January 17, 1937. He attended
Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception and Marist
Preparatory in Esopus, New York.
Monsignor Roth joined the Marist Brothers and graduated from
Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1961. He taught in
Marist schools and became assistant principal at the Marist High
School in Kobe, Japan, from 1963 to 1973. While there,
Monsignor Roth founded and was Scoutmaster of the
International Boy Scouts of America Troop 59.
After serving in Japan, Monsignor Roth followed his calling to
become a priest. He attended Pope John
XXIII
National




Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts. He was ordained a deacon
in 1978 at St. John Neumann Church in Columbia, SC, and
ordained as a priest at Sacred Heart Church, Bayside, NY, by
Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler in 1979. He was named a Prelate
of Honor and received the title monsignor in 1991, and was
appointed Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary by Pope John
Paul II in 2004.
After his ordination, Monsignor Roth worked in the Diocese of
Charleston in various positions including pastor on Sullivan's
Island, in Aiken, in Charleston, and in Myrtle Beach. He was
also Director of the Office of the Diaconate for the Diocese. He
was appointed co-vicar general by Bishop Robert J. Baker
In addition to his pastoral work, Monsignor Roth had great
affection and admiration for the members of the Fire and Police
Departments. He attended the South Carolina Fire Academy in
Columbia and was a state-certified structural firefighter as well
as a certified instructor at the South Carolina Fire Academy. In
1984, he became the Chaplain of the South Carolina State
Firemen's Association, the first Catholic priest to have that
honor, and a position he held for over 25 years.
Article on Monsignor Joseph Roth which appeared in South
Carolina Diocesan Newspaper
Msgr. Roth inducted into firefighters hall of fame
By Christina Lee Knauss
The Catholic Miscellany
COLUMBIA, SC - For 23 years, Msgr. Joseph R. Roth has served
as the chaplain for the South Carolina Firefighters Association,
ministering to members and their families around the state. In
gratitude for his work, he was inducted, along with three other
members, to the association's Hall of Fame at a banquet held at
the Metropolitan Convention Center on April 10.


The association is a statewide
organization that provides services,
benefits and information for firefighters
and their families. The group's regular
activities include seminars and training
opportunities and coordinating the
Firefighters Relief Fund.
Msgr. Roth is the first Catholic priest to
serve as chaplain for the group, which has had only three in its
102 year history.
When I was asked to be up there, I thought they wanted an
extra prayer, Msgr. Roth said in a phone interview with The
Miscellany. I was shocked when they gave me the award. Never
in my wildest dreams did I think about something like this. It
was a total surprise.
Jim Bowie, executive of the association, praised Msgr. Roth's
dedication to the spiritual well-being of its members. He's just
very well respected in our association, Bowie said. He's one of
the kindest, gentlest men you'd ever want to meet.
Bowie noted that the association has 80 to 90 members pass
away each year, and Msgr. Roth personally writes letters to each
of the families. The group currently has about 16,000 members,
consisting of both active and retired firefighters.
He said Msgr. Roth also is working to form a team that would
travel and work with the families and co-workers of South
Carolina firefighters who die in the line of duty.
Candidates for the Hall of Fame are nominated by individual
members and then evaluated by the state association's Member
Benefits Committee.
Msgr. Roth said he first got involved with firefighting in 1983
when he served as a priest on Sullivans Island. When he



learned there was a shortage of volunteer
firefighters, he offered to join because he
was on the island during the day while
others often were at work. He took
courses at the South Carolina Fire
Academy to become certified as a state
firefighter and then a fire officer.
Over the years, Msgr. Roth served as
chaplain for fire departments in Sullivans
Island, Isle of Palms, Aiken, Myrtle Beach
and the city of Charleston. He also serves
as chaplain emeritus for the South Carolina State Fire Chiefs
Association and the State Fire Instructors Association.
"Being a chaplain keeps me busy, and as a Catholic I'm
sort of alone out there because we just don't have a
large Catholic clergy presence in the fire community, he
said. There are a lot of firefighters who are Catholic".
Reverend Monsignor Joseph R. Roth, Pastor of St.
Andrew Catholic Church in Myrtle Beach, passed away
Sunday, May 15, 2011. Monsignor Roth was born to
Rudolph and Margaret Roth in Jackson Heights, N.Y.,
January 17, 1937. He graduated from Cathedral College
of the Immaculate Conception and Marist Preparatory
College in New York.
After college Monsignor Roth joined
the Marist Brothers and was
assistant principal at the order's
high school in Kobe, Japan, from
1963 to 1973. While there,
Monsignor Roth founded and was
Scoutmaster of the International
Boy Scouts of America Troop 59. He received many
Scouting honors including Order of the Arrow, the



Distinguished Service Medal, the Roman Catholic St.
George Award and a Scouter's Key.
After serving in Japan, Monsignor Roth followed his
calling to become a priest. He attended Pope John
XXIII
National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts. He was
ordained a deacon in 1978 at St. John Neumann Church
in Columbia, and ordained as a priest at Sacred Heart
Church, Bayside, N.Y., by Bishop Ernest L. Unterkoefler in
1979. He was named a Prelate of Honor and received the
title monsignor in 1991, and was appointed Protonotary
Apostolic Supernumerary by Pope John Paul II in 2004.
After his ordination, Monsignor Roth worked in the
Diocese of Charleston in various positions including
pastor of Christ the Divine Teacher, The Citadel, Stella
Maris Catholic Church on Sullivan's Island, St. Mary Help
of Christians in Aiken and St. Andrew Catholic in Myrtle
Beach. He was also Director of the Office of the
Diaconate for the Diocese. He left St. Andrew's in
September 2000 when he was appointed co-vicar general
with Msgr. Martin T. Laughlin by Bishop Robert J. Baker.
In 2001, he was appointed pastor of the Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist in Charleston. He served in both
capacities until he returned to St. Andrew's as pastor in
2008.
In addition to his pastoral work, Monsignor Roth had
great affection and admiration for the members of the
Fire and Police Departments. He attended the South
Carolina Fire Academy in Columbia and was a state-
certified structural firefighter as well as a certified
instructor at the South Carolina Fire Academy. In 1984,
he became the Chaplain of the South Carolina State
Firemen's Association, the first Catholic priest to have
that honor, and a position he held for over 25 years. He
received the Life Saving Medal and a proclamation of
recognition for lifesaving from the Myrtle Beach Fire


Department. He also served as Chaplain for the Fire and
Police Departments in Aiken, Myrtle Beach, Sullivan's
Island, Isle of Palms, Mount Pleasant, James Island,
Charleston and North Charleston. In 2006, he was the
first Catholic priest to be named to the South Carolina
State Firefighters Hall of Fame. In 2010, Monsignor was
named the Chaplain for Carolina Life Care and was
awarded a flight suit to be worn on Life Care missions.
Monsignor Roth was predeceased by his parents,
Margaret and Rudolph; and two brothers, Rudolph and
Vincent. He is survived by his nephews, Vincent Roth, Jr.
and Patrick Roth; and two nieces, Susan Boone and
Margaret Roth; plus several grand-nephews and nieces.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m.
Thursday, May 19, 2011 at St. Andrew Catholic Church,
503-37th Ave. N ., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. The Most
Reverend Robert E. Guglielmone, Bishop of the Diocese
of Charleston, is the celebrant. Final Prayers and
Committal Service will be held 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May
19, 2011, at Holy Cross Cemetery, 604 Fort Johnson
Road, (James Island) Charleston, SC 29412.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- It was a sad weekend for
many firefighters across the Palmetto State. Long time
South Carolina State Firefighter Association chaplain,
Reverend Monsignor Joseph R. Roth passed away
Saturday night. Roth was a former firefighter, and was
very involved in the firefighting community.
Grant Mishoe is a former North Charleston Firefighter,
current S.C. Firefighter Association member, and Editor-
in-Chief of SConfire.com. He told ABC News 4, "Father
Roth was a gentle soul as well as a great man. It is a sad
day for all South Carolina firefighters."




Monsignor Roth was at the Cathedral of St. John the
Baptist on Broad Street in Downtown Charleston from
June of 2001 to January of 2008. Monday, the Bishop of
Charleston Most Reverend Robert Guglielmone released
this statement about Roth's passing:
"Monsignor Roth was a faithful priest and ever
quick with a smile and a laugh. I am grieved at his
passing. His willingness to serve the Church in
whatever need presented itself was a gift to the
Church."
Reverend Roth's funeral will be in Myrtle Beach later this
week.
From: WCIV ABC News4 in Charleston
Prepared 22 September 2011; updated 24 Selptember 2011
Initial obituary developed by
J.
David Kammer 23 September 2011
Last two obituary sections added 5 December 2011