Goodbye old friend...

I think it is safe to assume the Museum will launch Ben's remarkable collection with the proper flourish Dave. Having read a good share of his collected works, it is stunning to try and digest even in small doses.

Ben was relentless with revisions and his one dream was to finish it before he died.

 

Just thought I would toss out a suggestion. This is how top historians are remembered, that and named chairs at colleges and universities.

 

• Roloff honored for Sun City service

Sun City Home Owners Association’s latest Hometown Hero Honor was presented to long-time Sun City resident Ben Roloff, a local historian. The surprise tribute was presented to Roloff at an event focused appropriately on history, the 125th birthday bash for Del Webb at the Del Webb Sun Cities Museum.

Roloff has served the Sun Cities community in many ways, aside from dedicating countless hours researching and preserving history. In 2015, he began making trips to the Arizona State Archives and compiled five large binders of detailed and extensive research of Sun City’s formative history. On tiny microfiche, he reviewed every Sun City newspaper published from 1958 to 1985 and today leads regular history lectures through the Sun City Lifetime Learning Club.

The history of our community – the original active adult community – has been well documented by Ben, not only for us, but for future generations,” said Lisa Gray, SCHOA general manager. “He is so deserving to be recognized and thanked for his ongoing years of service to this community that will provide memories and education for years to come.”

#
Sun City Independent story published Wednesday, May 22, 2024

 

Ben Roloff Obituary

Benjamin J. Roloff

The well-loved family member, community activist, historian, and Hometown HERO award-winner passed away on February 2nd, 2025, at the age of 83.

Ben inspired others with his high standards, leadership, generosity, and optimistic nature. A well-read lifelong learner, teacher, storyteller, and volunteer, Ben was the go-to guy for advice on wide-ranging topics and could often be heard saying, “It’s not even dark yet and look what I learned!”

Ben was enthusiastic, kind, funny, and interested in everyone. In everyday interactions he took time to connect with others and made them laugh and feel good about themselves. He stayed in touch with former students who continue to send him thank you notes. A beloved family member, Ben shared his love with words and actions and was heavily involved in his grandchildren’s lives. Family activities included card games, Packer games, hiking, golfing, museum outings and concerts.

When asked for historical information about his life, Ben wrote the following:
Retiring after a thirty-three-year career as a high school educator in suburban Green Bay, WI., Roloff and his wife Mary Rose moved to Sun City in 1997. Soon after, Roloff became active in his condominium association, which continued for three decades of continuous service as a board member. His interest in condominium leadership led to him being elected as a member of the Board of the Sun City Condominium Owners Association and to serving as its President. He followed that by being elected to the Board of the Sun City Home Owners Association and served as its President. Additionally, he served as a member of five different standing committees of the Recreation Centers of Sun City (RCSC) and twice was recognized by the RCSC as a “Volunteer of the Year” for both forming a new golf league and then managing it until it became established.

Roloff joined the Sun City Elks in 1997 and after his first full year was named “Elk of the Year” at the 3,000-member club for his work as Youth Director. Roloff considered the new opportunity a continuation of his work in Wisconsin where he was awarded a Lifetime Membership by his Optimist Club for two decades of work and mentoring the largest Jr. Optimist Club in the Midwest.

In addition to his high school teaching assignments and administering the school’s programming for gifted/talented high school students, Roloff spent years as the Advisor to the Student Council, coaching “Mock Trial” and “Academic Bowl Teams” and teaching athletic and life skills to student athletes in football, basketball, cross county, and golf.

Roloff’s interests outside of school included government service as a Howard Village Board representative for eight years and as a Brown County Board member for 18 years. His best memories of government service were his 13 years on the County Park Commission and his ten years as Commission Chairman. Other interests included camping, extensive travel, and being a friend and mentor to three foreign exchange students his family hosted for a year of their high school studies.

During the last decade, Roloff’s interest focused intensely on “The Sun City Story” as the “Community that Changed the Nation.” He made countless trips to the Arizona State History Archives where he reviewed tens of thousands of pages of Sun City newspapers gathering stories of unknown or totally forgotten local history. His findings have been shared in classes he taught and articles he wrote. His voluminous notebooks filled with historical treasures have been donated to the Del Webb Sun Cities Museum for safekeeping and for sharing with future generations.

Born in Kendall, WI, he was preceded in death by parents, Irvin and Louise (Preuss) Roloff, siblings, Rita Halderson and Rodger Roloff, brother-in-law, Louis Halderson, and sister-in-law, Pat Roloff. Ben is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Rose (Seidl) Roloff, daughter Rene’ (Dale) Nussbaum of Kenmore, WA, son Ryan (Lisa) Roloff of Chandler, AZ, grandsons Ben and Jack Nussbaum (Seattle), granddaughters Jenna and Melanie Roloff (Chandler, AZ) and sisters-in-law Jane Seidl (Sun City, AZ) and Jo Roloff (Stoughton, WI), along with multiple nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00pm on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, at Community Grace Lutheran Church (10561 W Pinnacle Peak Rd, Peoria, AZ 85383-off N.107th), directly followed by a dinner reception at the Sun City Elks Lodge (10760 W. Union Hills Dr). In lieu of flowers, online or in-person memorial contributions may be made to Feed My Starving Children through Community of Grace Lutheran Church or to Del Webb Sun Cities Museum (10801 W. Oakmont Dr., Sun City, AZ 85351).

#
Published by Legacy Remembers on Feb. 5, 2025.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/benjamin-roloff-obituary?id=57475850

 

Well done.