Courtesy of Eaton Funeral Homes

Daniel F. "Bud" Roche, of Marco Island FL and Needham, the retired co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Roche Brothers and Sudbury Farms Supermarkets and the founder of the Hans Kissle Salad Company died on Wednesday, September 4, 2013. He was 85 years old.

Bud was a graduate of Boston English High School and a veteran Sergeant of the US Marine Corp. An avid golfer, Bud was a member of Charles River Country Club of Newton and the Island Country Club in Marco Island. "And then there's Buddy…" That's how Buddy Roche was introduced when he was inducted into the Food Industry Hall of Fame in 1992. He was being honored for the company he and his brother Pat had founded 40 years earlier. Roche Bros., along with its sister company Sudbury Farm's, had become one of the premier supermarket companies in New England with 16 stores, close to 4,000 associates, serving 300,000 customers a week. It had grown from a meat market with just the two brothers into the 7th largest food chain in New England.

It was Buddy's reinvention of Potato Salad that deserves special mention. In the 1970s when everyone was selling a commodity potato salad for a low price, Buddy wouldn't even buy it at his own store. He would make his own recipe at home. He liked bigger, firmer pieces of potato with some fresh onion and he used a "dressing" of vinegar and mayonnaise. Everyone loved it, so he decided to start making it in the stores – it was a huge hit. There was so much demand that they started a separate company and called it Hans Kissle to keep up with supply. Soon Hans Kissle was selling not only potato salad but all sorts of improved "homemade" salads to all the major chains in New England. 

Bud was the beloved husband of Eileen (Sullivan) Roche and the loving father of Daniel F. Roche Jr. of New York City, Jay and his wife Laurie Roche of Needham, Brenda Roche of Dover and the late Patricia Roche. He was the brother of Jack Roche, Columbian Father of Rhode Island and the late James and Patrick Roche. Buddy was the cherished grandfather of Amanda Roche of Boston, William and Vienna Roche of Needham. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. His Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Joseph Church 1360 Highland Ave, Needham on Tuesday, September 10th at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held in St. Joseph Church on Monday from 2-8 PM. Interment with Military Honors at St. Mary's Cemetery. Donations in Buddy's name may be made to Sacred Heart School, 1035 Canterbury St, Roslindale MA 02131.