BOMBER MEMORIAL

CHIEF CHAPLAIN GARY GORDON ROLPH ~ Class of 1966
March 9, 1948 - December 6, 2025



Gary Rolph, Chief Chaplain, retired of the VA Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire, died on December 6, 2025. He was an ordained minister for 56 years. Gary was eulogized at his Celebration of Life service at Great Rock Church in Danvers, Massachusetts, where one of his sons is a pastor.

Gary was born in Richland, Washington, on March 9, 1948, to Gordon M. Rolph and Erma Mowery Rolph. He attended Spalding Grade School, Carmichael Junior High School and graduated with the Class of 1966 from Richland's Columbia High School.

His mother's parents were original settlers of Richland who came from Illinois in the early 1900's and planted orchards in what is now Richland. His father, Gordon Rolph, a native of Prosser, Washington, would become a specialist in radiation protection during WWII in Richland.

Gary felt a call to Christian ministry when he was in the third grade surprising his parents who thought he should be a scientist. He attended Northwest Christian College and the Honors College of the University of Oregon where he graduated from both in 1969. Two weeks after his ordination he married his wife, Jean, who he had met in his last semester of study at NCC.

He decided to continue his theological studies at Regent College at the University of British Colombia while also pastoring Hillside Baptist Church. After completing his Master's studies he was invited by the Brazilian Baptist Union to teach at a small seminary in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. He accepted and with Jean and their three sons moved to Brazil for four years as missionaries for the Canadian Baptist union. Returning to Canada he became a pastor of an English speaking church in Montreal, Quebec and also began services for Portuguese speaking refugees from Angola.

When they decided to return to northern New England in the mid 1980's Gary finished his clinical pastoral study at Dartmouth Medical School while pastoring a congregation. Disqualified from serving in Vietnam because of his eyesight, he had signed he would be willing to serve as a chaplain. Years later the government found him and wanted him to serve. For 18 years he was the Chief Chaplain at the VA Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire. His roles expanded to include being the institutional ethicist for the VA and also training in emergency management and earning his Master's degree in Institutional Management and becoming a board-certified clinician counseling veterans. When Hurricane Sandy hit New Orleans, he was sent to reopen a VA Medical Center in Marlon, Texas. Gary felt blessed to be able to minister to the veterans and their families and staff during a time of war and disaster. He retired at age 70.

Along with his wife, Jean, he is survived by three sons, seven grandchildren and his sister, Joanne "Sunnie" Rolph Andress ('59).

Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).