Tribute: Former Elgin Academy Dux and Distinguished Professor of Indiana University Peter J Roach
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A PROFESSOR who was at the heart of research into a deadly childhood disorder has died at the age of 73.
Dr Peter J Roach, Distinguished Professor of Indiana University, was a former pupil of East End Primary and Elgin Academy.
Prof Roach died on March 11 after a year-long illness.
He was born in Rangeworthy, South Gloucestershire on June 8, 1948
He was the son of Flight Lieutenant Hal Roach DFC an RAF Officer and Madge Roach, a shop assistant with Little the Jewellers in Elgin.
Along with his elder bother Bob, the family moved several times during his childhood, eventually settling in Elgin.
Peter was dux of both East End and Elgin Academy. A gifted academic and scientist, he left Elgin for Glasgow University where he earned BSc (Hons) and a PhD in biochemistry.
He moved to the United States for his post-doctoral training, studying firstly at UCLA and then at the University of Virginia. He met his wife Dr Anna A DePaoli whilst working in Charlottesville and they eventually settled in Indianapolis, working together until very recently at Indiana University.
They celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary in 2021.
Peter had a long and distinguished career, receiving many accolades, including being named Chancellor’s Professor of Indiana University in 2000 and Distinguished Professor in 2008.
Peter earned international recognition for his studies on glycogen metabolism and its regulation. No other laboratory in the world has made more ground-breaking discoveries in this area.
In the last 15 years, his glycogen expertise led him to studies of Lafora Disease where he made outstanding contributions to the pathology of this deadly childhood disorder.
Peter was also an outstanding teacher and his laboratory provided one of the best places in the world for training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. He received university, graduate student and IU trustee teaching awards.
He is survived and sorely missed by his wife Anna as well as his dogs Tank and Julie, his elder brother Bob, sister in law Lilian, nephews Michael and Andrew, Anna’s family in Italy and all his friends in Indianapolis and around the world.
