John Roberts passes away

I just received word that John Roberts passed away peacefully in
Williamsburg, Virginia last evening, March 1, 2013.

John was NMRA President, 2004-2006, Vice President, 2000-2004, Eastern District Director, 2009-2013, MCR President and Trustee, 1989-1993, and over the years held a number of other elected and volunteer offices throughout the NMRA. He was a well-known model railroad author and was the builder of several highly regarded layouts in HO and O scale.

John had contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare brain condition that causes a rapid decrease of mental function and movement, and inevitably leads to death. John first showed symptoms of the disease in early 2012.

The visitation will be held at 1 pm on Friday, March 8, at the Peninsula Funeral Home in Newport News, Virginia, with the funeral beginning at at 2 pm. Interment will be nearby.

John is survived by his wife, Suzie, his children, John (Collette) and
Whitney, and two granddaughters.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be sent to the Diamond Club, National Model Railroad Association, Inc., 4121 Cromwell Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37421. Cards and letters may be sent to the family at 104 Heritage Pointe, Williamsburg, VA, 23188.

We will have more information as it becomes available.

Please feel free to pass this information along to those on your NMRA and model railroading lists.

Mike Brestel