James Roe

Message from the President
Dec. 1, 2017

Dear LMU Community:

I am saddened to share with you that James Roe, retired professor of chemistry, died on Nov. 27, 2017, after a long illness. He was 62 years old.

Professor Roe held several research and teaching positions before joining the faculty of Loyola Marymount University in 1991 in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He received tenure in 1997 and was promoted to professor in 2002; he served a term as chair of the department and was a member of the Faculty Senate. Professor Roe retired in June 2017.

A self-described rabid science fiction fan, Professor Roe taught a course for non-science majors that explored “the science in science fiction that does and does not add up,” as he characterized it. Professor Roe was also an enthusiastic proponent of electric cars and owned several, including the EV1, a Ford Ranger EV, and a Tesla.

He earned his Ph.D. in chemistry at UC Berkeley in 1984 and his A.B. degree in chemistry and classics at Williams College in 1977.

A memorial Mass will be held Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 2 p.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations in Professor Roe’s memory can be made to the Island Gift of Life Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Please keep James, his family, and his many friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D.
President