Obituary of Kenneth Melvin Roughgarden

Kenneth M. Roughgarden, 85, of Mt. Arlington, passed away on Tuesday February 22, 2022 at St. Clare's Hospital, Denville Campus. Born in Hawthorne, NJ on June 20, 1936 to the late Howard and Mabel (Royle) Roughgarden, Kenneth has resided in Mt. Arlington for the last 12 years. Kenneth was a retired United States Coast Guard Captain and served faithfully for 30 years. He earned the USCG Commendation Medal with four Gold Stars, USCG Unit Commendation Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, USCG Sea Service Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal with a Gold Star. Kenneth was a sports enthusiast, as well as a dog lover, he also enjoyed playing cards, bowling, golf and a good IPA!! Kenneth was predeceased by his first wife Rita, his second wife Emily, brother Howard Roughgarden, Jr and sister Joan Raclowski. Survivors include his children Keith Roughgarden, Kristi Austin and Joe DeGise, daughters in law Christine Roughgarden and Elizabeth DeGise and son in law Charles Austin, grandchildren Rachel Roughgarden, Kelly Roughgarden, Missy Meehan and her husband Daniel and Kevin Roughgarden and a sister Connie Wiitz. Kenneth's Life Celebration will include a memorial gathering on Saturday March 12, 2022 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM at the Leber-Lakeside Funeral Home, 150 Landing Road, Landing, NJ. A prayer service will be offered on Saturday at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. The remainder of services are private. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Kenneth's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.