Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/31/26
Reposted from DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith and Boyd Funeral Home Inc
John Robert Rohde, 77, a successful lacrosse coach in Philly schools, of Exton, passed away on Friday, January 30th. The son of Alexander (Bud) and Roberta Rohde, he was born September 25, 1948, in Erie, Pennsylvania. John grew up in Erie and attended Henderson High School. After high school, John attended West Chester University, where he met the love of his life, Madalene (Foster) Rohde.
John served in the U.S. Navy from 1971-1974 and flew airplanes for the Hurricane Hunters, stationed in Guam. After honorably discharging from the Navy, John completed his college degree and married Madalene in 1974. They found home to be Chester County, PA. This is where they welcomed their three sons, Matthew Foster in 1978, Jeffrey Alexander in 1980, and Ryan Hunter in 1984.
John’s working life included time at Weichert Realty in West Chester, PA and Foster Court Reporting in Philadelphia, PA. However, his primary career was coaching. John’s coaching career spanned decades and multiple sports. As the GEYA Little League Commissioner from 1990-1996 and LYA Lacrosse co-founder, John led and directed the sports that directly impacted his sons and countless other young men in the Chester County area.
His main passion, however, was lacrosse and more specifically, coaching his sons in lacrosse. John joined the staff at Malvern Preparatory School as an assistant coach in 1995 and carried that role until he assumed the head coaching role in 1997. John was privileged to coach all three of his boys during his time at Malvern. During his tenure at Malvern, the program took foundational steps forward and saw an Inter Ac conference championship, its first top-25 ranking, and the first state championship appearance in program history. John was also voted as the 2002 PSLA Coach of the Year. It cannot be understated what role John Rohde played in the building of what is now a yearly nationally-ranked high school program at Malvern Prep. John also served as the EPSLA President during his time at Malvern.
After his time at Malvern Prep, John continued his legacy on the sidelines at Unionville High School, serving as head coach from 2004 to 2012. As a leader on the sidelines at Unionville, John was a leader in the community, serving as a Special Education Paraprofessional for the Chester County Intermediate Unit. His kindness and care for children with special needs were evident to all who knew him.
“Much of the success that Malvern Prep lacrosse has had should be attributed to the foundation that John Rohde had set,” said John McEvoy a Hall of Fame coach who was an assistant under Rohde for two years before continuing to lead Malvern in the national scope. “As lacrosse began to take off in popularity in the ’90s, John introduced Malvern Prep to many talented young men and their families. He created excitement and showed us the possibilities that existed for the program. Malvern Prep is greatly indebted to him.
“His genuine kindness and humility attracted a strong and loyal following among many of his players, coaches, and so many others around the Philadelphia lacrosse community.”
Mr. Rohde’s close friend, Bruce Vosburgh, coached with him at Unionville and said he was a great coach and a great person who had the empathy to work with students with special needs.
“He was a players’ coach and made such great connections with his players,” said Vosburgh. “He had a knack for putting players in the right position. He also reminded players that practices should be harder than games! Games should be fun as you execute what you practiced.”
“We attended many conventions and tournaments together. He was a great man who was respected by the teachers at Patton Middle School for his work with special needs kids.”
After retiring in 2015, John’s other hobbies included golfing, going to local lacrosse recruiting events and college games, attending his grandchildren’s soccer and lacrosse games, and visiting with family over the years.
John (Jocko, Silver Fox, Dad, Papi) is survived by his wife Madalene, Exton, PA; sister Barbara and husband Richard Mattioni, Paoli, PA; son Matthew Rohde and wife Lisa, Manchester, VT; son Jeffrey Rohde, Exton, PA; son Ryan Rohde and wife Emma, Fredericksburg, VA; granddaughters Maddie and Ella Rohde, Manchester, VT; grandson John Rohde, Fredericksburg, VA; niece Joy Grady and husband John, West Chester, PA, and their families.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Alexander (Bud) Rohde and Roberta Rohde.
At this time, funeral mass and celebration of life services are TBD. Please check back in the coming days.
Funeral Mass: TBD
Celebration of Life: TBD
