MEMORIAL ARTICLE Published Assembly March 2003 Del P Rovis '46 No. 16147 * 23 Dec 1922 - 12 Apr 2002 Died in Fairfax, VA * Interred in Fairfax Memorial Cemetery, Fairfax, VA

Del Patrick Rovis was born in Pula, Italy (now Croatia). He grew up in New York City where his family immigrated when Del was quite young. He attended Brooklyn Academy in Brooklyn, NY in preparation for West Point. He joined the Class of 1946 on the banks of the Hudson on 1 July 1943.

Del's work ethic and personality helped him make it as a cadet. He was well known for his musical and dancing talent, playing the violin and participating in the 100th Nite Show where he jitterbugged with companymate, Jiggs Gigante. When graduation rolled around, he pinned on the bars of a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps. He married Patricia Martin at the Cadet Catholic Chapel the day after graduation, 5 June 1946. They were the first couple to be married that day in the Catholic Chapel.

After basic artillery schooling at Fort Sill, OK and Fort Bliss, TX, Del went first to Korea and later to Japan. Classmate George Porter recalls their association in Japan: "Although we were not in the same outfit in Japan, we were stationed near Del and Pat and saw them as often as possible. One of the high points of my friendship with Del was in 1949 when we climbed Mt Fujiyama. We started the climb in the afternoon, climbed most of the night (using flashlights) and reached the summit at dawn. It was a beautiful sight and a moving experience, one that neither of us could ever forget." When the Korean War started, Del saw combat duty with the 3d Infantry (65th RCT) Division. Back to the States, Del attended branch schooling and then was off to Europe. In 1961, he decided to leave the Army and try his hand at civilian life.

His first position was as in Management Operations Research at the Harry Diamond Laboratories. He remained in the US Army Laboratory Command until his retirement in 1981. During that period he earned his Masters in Engineering Administration from George Washington University, attended the Defense Systems Management College at Fort Belvoir, VA and became Chief, Plans Division, US Army Laboratory Command. 

After retirement Del and Pat remained in Northern Virginia where Del concentrated on his other interests. He continued his long time interest in music. He was proud that he had fulfilled a lifetime dream in his youth by playing the violin with a youth orchestra at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He was proud of his volunteer work at the National Museum of American History where he was curator for a large collection of song sheets of American popular music. Del loved to travel and went on more than 30 cruises around the world and to areas of specific interest to him. He sponsored all 15 of his family members living in the Washington DC area on 14 annual family cruises. In 1996, Del took his family to his birthplace, Pula, Croatia and was honored by the Mayor in an elaborate ceremony and received the keys to the city.

Del died from cancer on 12 April 2002. Survivors include his wife, Pat; daughters, Winifred, Patricia and Marynoele; son, Christopher and six grandchildren.

To know Del Rovis was to love and respect him. He was everything a West Pointer was expected to be. Longtime friend and classmate, Frank Caruso delivered the eulogy at Del's memorial service. Extracts from his remarks say much about his friend: "Del had a way of lighting up a room when he entered. A proud family man who generously and lovingly bestowed upon his family all that a father could offer. In the 59 years that I have known Del, I have been fortunate enough to have our friendship grow to the point of considering him as the brother I never had. Areverderci my pal, Del …God Bless You!!"

Classmate Tom Provenzano recalled: "Del lived life with gusto, always urging others to enjoy life along with him. To have known Del was to love and adore him. He will be terribly missed by his beautiful family as well as his many friends."

E1 classmate, George Porter, wrote: "Del was a friendly, outgoing and exuberant man who savored life and enjoyed himself fully. He liked people and people invariably liked him. Del was a wonderful friend. I miss him as do his family and many friends."

Daughter Mary Noele remembered: "My dad was personally responsible for imparting to me the importance of fitness and the excitement of all sports. He personally pinned on my Ensign bars and participated in my commissioning in the US Naval Reserves. I also have my dad to thank for naming me. As a Christmas baby, he came up with Mary Noele, a name rarely heard but I absolutely love it."

Daughter Trish recalled: "My father put faith in me to make the right choices and encouraged me to take risks and go for adventure and that I did!! Music and adventure were his signatures. One of the highlights of our life was when he took my family on a two week Mediterranean cruise. He wanted to take me back to where we once lived in Italy and also in Munich. Then we visited his hometown of Pula, Croatia. My special memory of Dad was the day we finally arrived in Pula and he got out of the car and kissed the ground of his birthplace. Our pilgrimage to Pula with our family was our ultimate adventure. These are my personal thoughts when I think about my wonderful dad!"

The Class of 1946 proudly adds those words from the Alma Mater that would be so meaningful to our classmate: "Well Done, Del; Be Thou At Peace!"
 

'46 Memorial Article Project and his family