Mr. Roche was educated in the schools of Elizabeth, where he resided until he was sixteen years old, when he removed with his parents to Kearny. As a boy lie served his time as a machine moulder, and con- tinued in that avocation until about the year 1887, when he engaged in the hotel business. In 1889 he built his present hotel, the Windsor House, at 345 Kearny Avenue, in Kearny, a commodious structure of three stories Under his management that well-known hotel has had a prosperous and successful career.

Aside from his business connections Mr. Roche has for a number of years taken an active and leading part in public affairs, and from its organization until 1897 was a member of the New Jersey Naval Reserve. In politics he is a Democrat. He has served as a member of the Democratic County Committee of Hudson County, and in 1898 was the regular party nominee for Freeholder, but being in a district where the Republicans have a nominal majority of over 700 he was defeated by about 50 votes. He is a member of the Red Men and Foresters, active and progressive in the affairs of the community, and prominently identified with many public movements.