Joseph Morgan Rolan ’37

Joseph Morgan Roland died Jan. 21, 2008, at Medford Leas in Medford, N.J.

He was born in Philadelphia and graduated from Germantown Friends School. At Princeton he majored in German and graduated with high honors. He was a member of the Glee Club and the Chapel Choral Union and also taught Sunday school and other educational activities at Jamesburg State Home for Boys.

After Princeton, Joe became one of the top men in the State Department and moved to Germany to study at the University of Munich for a year. He then spent two years in Vienna as the American vice consul, leaving Austria just before we got into the war. After his experiences under German occupation, he became a political analyst in the State Department's Division of Foreign Affairs in Washington. He served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946 and was discharged with the rank of lieutenant.

In 1944, Joe married Mary Helen Banker, who was a Navy WAVE.

In his later years, Joe spent a lot of time in the State Department, serving as director of the Office of European Programs. He remained active with many Quaker interests.

Joe's last visit with our class was at our 70th reunion. To Mary and all his friends, the class extends its sympathy.