Andrew J. Rochells

Captain Andrew “Andy” Jerome Rochells, USN Retired, 86, died peacefully at his home in North Hampton, New Hampshire on October 03, 2023. Andy was born on January 09, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois to parents Jerome and Grace (Wagner) Rochells. An aviation enthusiast from a young age, after earning a bachelor's degree in management from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Andy joined the U.S. Navy in 1961, attended Officers Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida and became a naval flight officer. A decorated veteran with multiple tours of duty at sea, Andy served in the Navy until 1991. While on his first assignment at Naval Air Station (NAS) Quonset Point in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, Andy met his wife Sonja "Sunny" Nevin who he married on June 22, 1964. Shortly thereafter, Andy was stationed at NAS Glynco in Brunswick, Georgia and then at NASNorth Island in San Deigo, California where his squadron, VAW-116, deployed aboard the USS Coral Sea to Vietnam. After serving in the Vietnam war, Andy was assigned to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City where he earned a Master of Education. He was then stationed at NAS Miramar in San Deigo where he commanded E2-C Hawkeye squadron VAW-112, the "Golden Hawks". Andy went on to graduate from the National War College in Washington, DC and serve at the Pentagon. He then served as commanding officer of NAS Meridian in Meridian, Mississippi and went on to serve at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. After retiring from the Navy, Andy joined Booz Allen Hamilton as a consultant based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He retired in 2003. Andy is survived by his wife Sunny of North Hampton, daughters Cindy (Mark) Petrauskas of Owings, Maryland and Lori (Steven) Coutu of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, sister Judith Belding of Colorado Springs, Colorado, brothers Kenneth and Alex Rochells of San Diego, and grandsons Samuel and Wilson Coutu and Jack and Evan Petrauskas. He is predeceased by his brother Lawrence Rochells. A period of visitation will be held at Remick and Gendron funeral home in Hampton, New Hampshire on October 24, 2023, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Andy will be cremated and his remains interred at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

Andrew J. Rochells

January 9, 1937 - October 3, 2023