James L. Rockenbach Sr. ’64

Rocky died March 10, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla., with Margie, his devoted wife of 47 years, at his side. He is also survived by daughters Serenity and Tamara, sons James and Travis, 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Born in Detroit, Rocky was raised in Pittsburgh, where he graduated from Baldwin High after co-captaining the football team, captaining the wrestlers, and winning the Buss Award as his class’s top athlete.

At Princeton he played football wingback. He was named All-Ivy as a senior, the only Tiger wingback ever so honored. He also captained the wrestling team. He won the Poe Cup for excellence in football and shared the Roper Cup as our class’s top athlete. In 2019 he was named one of Princeton’s best football players of the Ivy League era.

Rocky majored in electrical engineering, partied at Cannon Club, worked in the dining hall, and roomed with Tom Mathews ’65, Frank Merrick, Robin Metz, Gil Peterson, and Vic Wooley. After graduation he earned an MBA from Northwestern. He worked for Cummins Engine Co. and then Ring Power, the Jacksonville Caterpillar dealer.

In his 30s Rocky became a devout Christian and spent much time thereafter organizing charitable events, teaching Sunday school, and being a lay minister for Kairos Prison Ministry, where, among other endeavors, he counseled death-row inmates.

Rocky will be remembered as the best friend one could have.