Posted on: Saturday, July 14, 2001

Phyllis Roe, director of Samaritan Counseling, dead at 53

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Phyllis Carol Roe, 53-year-old director of the Samaritan Counseling Center of Hawaii, died June 30 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

Roe, a doctor of theology and psychotherapist who lived in Kane'ohe, was born in Arkansas and raised in Nebraska. Her father was a Methodist minister.

Roe was ordained a minister in the United Methodist Church in 1976.

In 1980 she married Michael Anderson, founding executive director of the Samaritan Counseling Center, and became associate director of Hawai'i's first interfaith counseling center. The Samaritan Counseling Center also offers educational services for clergy, congregations and others.

Anderson died in 1991, and Roe became executive director.

Roe, a co-author of the book "Reflections on Aging and Spiritual Growth," was undergoing surgeries for an aortic aneurism while at Mount Sinai.

Roe is survived by her mother, Enid Roe; brother, Ben Roe; and sister, Deborah Stratmann.

A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. today at First United Methodist Church, 1020 S. Beretania St. Aloha attire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Samaritan Counseling Center of Hawaii, 1020 Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96814.