Hadley Roe
Obituary Reports the death of an individual, providing an account of the person’s life including their achievements, any controversies in which they were involved, and reminiscences by people who knew them.
Caring of heart,
Gallant of spirit,
Courageous in thought,
Selfless in love
Hadley Scott Roe, born Aug. 10, 1938, in Orange, N.J., the oldest of three children of Howard and Marion (Miller) Roe, died on June 19. He was 84.
He grew up in Short Hills, N.J., where his favorite teacher at Glenwood Elementary School, Mrs. Shaughnessy, instilled in Hadley his lifelong love of birding.
Hadley was a proud member of the incredible class of Millburn High School, 1956. At Millburn, in addition to academics, Hadley captained the tennis team and was a member of the Millburn varsity football team. Years later, Hadley, the diehard New York Jets season ticketholder, spent several halftimes discussing high school football rivalries with a fellow Jets fan and Vernon High School football team alum, who just happened to have seats two down from Hadley’s.
In the fall of 1956, Hadley entered Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. A U.S. history major, he also captained the Hamilton tennis team and was a member of the only undefeated Hamilton football team in 1958 (6-0-1). Sixty-five years later, that unbeaten record still stands.
While at Hamilton, Hadley was an enthusiastic member of Psi of Psi Upsilon fraternity, crediting life and friends at Psi House with teaching him as many valuable life lessons as did his Hamilton education.
Encouraged by family friend and personal mentor H. Lee White, Hadley pursued the study of law at University of Virginia Law School, earning his LL.B. in 1963.
Hadley joined Cadwalader, Wickersham &Taft (CW&T) in 1963, becoming partner Jan. 1, 1973, with a specialty in international maritime financial markets. He worked on many notable projects including the first Tsakos Shipping deal with Irving Bank and the purchase at auction of Liberty ships that formed the early base of Costamare Container Shipping Group. And he vividly recalled talking with Famagusta (Varosha) based maritime officials when the phones and telexes went dead. It was July 1974 and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus had begun.
In 1992, Hadley joined four colleagues to open the Maritime Finance Group at Seward & Kissel LLP. Today, employing more than 50 attorneys in the field, Seward & Kissell enjoys a global reputation as a premiere U.S. law firm specializing in maritime law. In 2012, Hadley traveled to London where he accepted, on behalf of the Maritime Group, the prestigious Lloyd’s List Maritime Deal of the Year award for the Eagle Bulk Shipping Restructuring. Hadley retired from actively practicing law in 2014.
Hadley Scott Roe and Mary Lee Fox Roe were married May 2, 1987, by Mayor Richard Flynn in Mount Kisco Village Hall. The blessing of their marriage was celebrated Oct. 10, 1987, at St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral in New York City with the Rev. William Roberts of St. Bartholomew’s and the Rev. Stephen Bolle and then-Deacon Louise Parsons Pietsch of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Katonah officiating.
That was also the day of the 113th Kentucky Derby won by Alysheba with Chris McCarron up. Each year thereafter, the first Saturday in May became a Happy Anniversary Hadley, Mary Lee and Alysheba party. It grew in size from 15 people to over 200, and Hadley’s favorite stories were about strangers sitting at the same table asking, “How do you know them?” Friendships were born and renewed each Derby Day in Mount Kisco.
Hadley Scott Roe is survived by Mary Lee, his wife of 36 years; his three children, whom he loved so much and was so proud of: Tim (Mascha) of Moordrecht, Holland, Tyler (Kelly Youmans) of Savannah, Ga. and Kate (Gavin Guerra) of Weston, Conn. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Shea Roe, Madison Roe and Garrett Roe of Nashua, N.H.; Magee Roe, Olivia Roe and Deacon Roe of Savannah, Ga. and Sabrina Roe Guerra of Weston, Conn. One of Hadley’s deepest regrets was not being able to spend more time with each of his grandchildren, watching them grow and become the remarkable individuals they are.
Hadley is also survived by his sister, Susan Roe Winant, of East Aurora, N.Y.; his nieces, Julia Winant, Beth Winant Davis, Jana Roe Osofsky, Whitney Roe and Leah Roe Casey; and his nephew, Scott Winant. He was predeceased by his parents, Howard and Marion Roe, and his brother, Jeffrey.
He was previously married to Dianne Hibbard Roe of Southbury, Conn.
There will be a memorial service for Hadley at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Mount Kisco on Tuesday, July 25 at 11 a.m., followed at noon by a reception/celebration of Hadley’s life at the Mount Kisco American Legion Post 136. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances are requested in Hadley’s name to St Mark’s Episcopal Church, 85 E. Main St., Mount Kisco, N.Y. 10549; the Bedford Audubon Society, Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Rd., Katonah, N.Y. 10536; or the SPCA of Westchester, 590 N. State Rd., Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. 10510.
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