Bart Clifford Rochman's Obituary
Rochman, Bart, 93, was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, by his parents Hylda and Sam Rochman. He attended Omaha Central High School. During his school years, he was president of the local AZA, a youth-led fraternal organization for Jewish teenagers, and was named Athlete of the Year at the Omaha Jewish Community Center. He attended the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he was a member of the tennis team, Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, and ROTC. He graduated in 1954 with a business degree. After his graduation, he served two years in the Air Force, eventually reaching the rank of captain. In 1955, while he was in service, he married Shirley Jean Rosenberg. They moved to Peoria, Illinois, in 1956 and lived there for 42 years. Bart worked for Caterpillar Inc. his entire adult life, starting in its graduate training program and rising to become manager of federal, state, and local taxes as well as a registered lobbyist for Caterpillar on tax issues. Beginning in the early 1960s, Bart also pursued his passion for public service and elective office. He served as a member and then president of the District 117 School Board; member, vice-chair, and chairman of the Peoria County Board, with the support of both Republicans and Democrats; and chairman of the Public Building Commission. He was president and longtime board member of Congregation Anshai Emeth and finance committee chairman of the Heart of Illinois United Way. Just two years after he and Shirley retired to Arizona in 1998, he was elected to the Oro Valley Town Council, where he continued to share his expertise in budgeting and finance.
In his later years, he was a conscientious and devoted caregiver every single day to his wife Shirley during her years of disability. And through it all he remained a proud and ever-hopeful Nebraska Cornhuskers fan. He will be celebrated, loved, and missed by his family and friends. He was a dear father and father-in-law of Randy (Betsy) Rochman of Glencoe, Illinois, and Richard (Ashley) Rochman of San Francisco; dear grandfather of Michael (Grace), Lauren, and Abby (Patrick Goff) Rochman; and proud great-grandfather of Jack and Beau Rochman. The family wishes to thank his caregivers, who devoted long hours of support and companionship every day for the past six years. Services: Graveside service on February 12, 11;00 a.m., at Evergreen Mortuary, 3015 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson, Arizona 85705. Memorial contributions preferred to Congregation Anshai Emeth (in memory of Bart Rochman) 5614 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61614 or to Feeding America https://give.feedingamerica.org. Please visit https://www.evergreenmortuary-cemetery.com for more information.
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