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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF MICHAEL T. ROARKE

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Serpa, Jackson, Shekarchi, and Mattiello

     Date Introduced: January 08, 2020

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Michael T. “Mike” Roarke passed away surrounded by his loving family on

July 27, 2019. He was the son of the late Walter and Mary Roarke, and was predeceased by his

wife of fifty-nine years, Sue Roarke and siblings, Mary McKanna and John Roarke; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Roarke was born and raised in West Warwick, where he was a standout

baseball, football and basketball player for the West Warwick Wizards in the 1940s, serving as

the Captain of all three teams. After graduating from high school in 1948, he went on to attend

Boston College, where he was a standout player and Captain of the Eagles baseball and football

teams. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1952, and was awarded the James J. Heggie, Jr., and

Thomas F. Scanlon Trophies in recognition and honor of his good character, outstanding

leadership, scholastic and athletic achievements; and

     WHEREAS, After graduating college, Mr. Roarke served our nation with honor and

distinction as a radio operator in the United States Army from 1952 to 1954. After being

honorably discharged, he embarked on a forty-two year professional baseball career as both a

player and coach in the major and minor leagues. As a player, he toiled in the minors for a decade

before breaking into the majors at the age of thirty with the Detroit Tigers in 1961, serving mostly

as a backup catcher; and

     WHEREAS, At the end of his playing career, Mr. Roarke was asked by the Tigers

Manager to serve as the team’s bullpen coach, which lead to a second career for him in

professional baseball as coach and manager. He coached for the Tigers and California Angels

before he moved to the minors to manage in Toledo, San Antonio, Evansville and Wichita; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Roarke returned to the Major Leagues with the Chicago Cubs and

gained some credit and notoriety for helping to develop a young, future Hall of Fame member,

Bruce Sutter, into the dominant reliever of his generation; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Roarke later decided to return close to home in order to spend more

time with his wife and children. He accepted a position with the Pawtucket Red Sox, working

with Manager Joe Morgan from 1981 to 1983, where he played a key role in the development of

future Red Sox pitchers Bruce Hurst and Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd. He also became part of

professional baseball lore, and the record books, as part of the longest game in professional

baseball history. He would go down as the winning manager of that epic 33 inning game when he

took over as manager in the 22nd inning when Manager Joe Morgan was ejected; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Roarke would go on to serve as a pitching coach with the St Louis

Cardinals, participating in two World Series in 1985 and 1987, and later coaching for the San

Diego Padres before concluding his distinguished baseball career as a coach with the Boston Red

Sox in 1994. He also coached in two Major League Baseball All Star Games; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Roarke spent much of his life giving back to the wider community. He

served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers of Rhode Island for more than twenty years,

and established a nonprofit to support the renovation of John E. McCarthy Memorial Stadium in

West Warwick. He also served as the Vice President of the West Warwick High School Class of

1948. In recognition of his many athletic accomplishments, he has been inducted into the Halls of

Fame of West Warwick High School, Boston College Varsity Club, Providence Gridiron Club,

the National Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame;

and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Roarke is survived by his children, Susan Roarke, Thomas Roarke,

Karen Roarke and her husband, Doug Cluff, Janet O’Connell and her husband, Patrick, and Kelly

Roarke. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Michael O’Connell, Cameron Cluff, Hailey

O’Connell, and Brennan Cluff, and one brother, Walter Roarke; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Roarke was a devoted family man to his wife and children. In his free

time, he enjoyed playing golf at the West Warwick Country Club, reading good books, solving

difficult crossword puzzles, quick dips in cold pools, eating coffee ice cream and Reese’s Peanut

Butter Cups, and enjoying lunch with friends at his favorite restaurant, A. J.’s. Mr. Roarke will be

remembered by many for being a wonderfully loyal friend and a true gentleman at all times. His

loss is grievous, but the abiding love he gave to his family will forever live on in their hearts and

memories; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby expresses its condolences to the Roarke Family on the passing of

Michael Roarke; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Susan Roarke, Thomas Roarke, Karen Roarke,

Janet O’Connell, and Kelly Roarke.

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