On Friday, October 24, 2025, Roger Edward Ochs (‘ox’) transitioned from his home in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida to Heaven at 1:53 p.m.
Roger was born on November 11, 1942, in Warwick, New York, the seventh of nine children. His father, Conrad Ochs, born in Russia, was an onion farmer and a carpenter. His mother, Emily (Schmick) Ochs, was a very busy American “mama”. Roger is survived by his wife, Beth, of fifty years; his son, Jonathan and his wife, Stacey, and their five, beautiful children: Nathaniel Ochs, Jonah Ochs, Cassie Eder, Corey Ochs, and Jonathan Henry Ochs; his sister, Linda (Ochs) Pietrzak; and his brother, Brian Ochs; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews across the country.
Two years after Roger graduated from high school, he headed a very successful drama department in Corning, NY, for three years. Then he worked Off Broadway, touring in a children’s theater company, after which he pursued a twelve-year career as a commercial actor for television. He played a variety of roles in both professional and community theater including, Geppetto in Pinocchio, Max in the Sound of Music, Rostron in Titanic, a gangster in Kiss Me Kate, and an actor in Spoon River Anthology…to name a few. Roger also loved folk dancing, and with his partner, Mary Rogowksi, they became the Polka Champions of the Harvest Moon Ball held at Madison Square Garden in NYC in 1967. The following Sunday, they had the honor of dancing their polka on the Ed Sullivan Show!
After he moved to Riverside, California, in 1979, he turned his focus to teaching. Over about fifteen years, he taught virtually all ages in special education and brought much joy to the schools and classes in which he worked. He was always incorporating some theatrical element which had the children learning lines, speaking and acting publicly, and developing their confidence from the classroom to the stage. He truly had a gift for what he did and was dearly loved by students, parents, and faculty alike!
Shortly after age 30, he rededicated his life to the Lord Jesus Christ, and his focus and priority went to studying the Bible and eventually ministering to others whether in a church, home, restaurant, or the marketplace. Together with his wife, Beth, he sang and wrote songs and led praise and worship for years. For about ten years, after they had moved from California to Florida, Roger and Beth went to senior and assisted-living residences, singing monthly for the people. Their act was called “Give Our Regards” and it included classic Broadway and pop songs, patriotic songs, as well as gospel. The people really loved it. Roger just had an amazing way of communicating and he genuinely cared for people. He would always reach out to pray for people in need, whether he knew them or not.
Roger loved God with all his heart and loved his family deeply. He’s had a significant impact on numerous lives, often finding out over the years that his influence had literally transformed the lives of former students, both young and old. Many will shed tears at the homegoing of Roger Ochs, but the legacy he left will surely go on for many years to come…a loving and faithful husband, a wonderful father and grandfather, an uncompromising man of God, and a rare and precious soul who will be greatly missed by many!
Roger’s Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held on Sunday, November 2, at Vision Church at Christian International, located at 5200 Highway 98 East in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. The viewing will begin at 12:45 p.m,, and the service will be held at 1:30 p.m. The livestream of Roger’s service will be available on Sunday, November 2, at 1:30 p.m. Central Standard Time at www.youtube.com/@visionchurchci and www.facebook.com/visionchurch.
