John Roes Biography

In Memoriam

Cubic International Focus, September 2008

It is with deep regret and sorrow that Cubic Corporation has announced the death of John Roes. He died on Saturday, August 23, 2008, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Roes, Senior Vice President of Technology, joined Cubic more than 37 years ago. He held at least 10 patents related to Optical Combat Identification System (OCIDS) and 44 patents altogether. His first assignment in a long, distinguished and highly diverse career was working on Cubic's first fare collection ating system for the Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) in the Philadelphia area.

John was a strong advocate for developing free space optical communications at Cubic. He oversaw the development of cutting-edge, emerging technologies in this area that only now is beginning to bear fruit. John approached these challenges with great passion, yet with a clear purpose.

When his health started to fail, John found it difficult to let go and stayed the course much longer than anyone could imagine. Cubic and those individuals working with him benefited greatly. He was a man of great character, fairness, and a technological innovator. He cultivated the best from everyone and his satisfaction came from knowing that he and the team accomplished new feats.

When it came to the great outdoors, Roes loved it all. He completed a trip from the Virgin Islands to San Diego, surfed 60-foot waves off the coast of Colombia, rode out a huge storm off Casablanca, and watched 24 porpoises glide between the pontoons of his 45-foot catamaran named "Dutch Yankee."

Surviving are his wife, Sonja; son, Michael; and daughter, Anuschka.

A great man passed through our midst and we are happy that we had the opportunity to have known him. He will be greatly missed by all.