BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. NOW TO A REALLY INCREDIBLE STORY HERE. A LOCAL MARINE CORPS VETERAN WAS HONORED TODAY WITH A VERY MEMORABLE FUNERAL. THAT’S RIGHT. IT INCLUDED A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE AND A VISITATION AT HIS FAVORITE BAR, WLWT NEWS FIVE’S RACHEL WHELAN SHOWS US HIS LAST BIG PARTY IN NORTHSIDE, A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE. LIVE JAZZ AND AN OPEN BAR. THAT’S WHAT PHILIP ROADY WANTED FOR HIS FUNERAL. AND THAT’S WHAT HE GOT. THE TROTTING OF HORSES AND THE SOUNDS OF CLASSICAL JAZZ. THAT’S HOW PHILIP ROADY WANTED TO MAKE AN ENTRANCE WHILE MAKING AN EXIT FROM THIS WORLD. SO PHILIP WAS MY UNCLE AND. JUST BASICALLY A SECOND FATHER FIGURE. FRANK ROADY SAYS HIS UNCLE PASSED AWAY LAST MONTH AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH PROSTATE CANCER. BEFORE HE PASSED, HE TOLD EVERYONE HE WANTED HIS VISITATION AT NORTHSIDE TAVERN OPEN CASKET AND OPEN BAR. IT’S OPEN BAR FOR BEER AND RUM AND COKES, OF COURSE. SO HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE HE HAD ONE LAST HURRAH WITH ALL HIS FRIENDS. AS WE’VE HAD WEDDINGS, MEMORIALS, BUT NEVER THE FULL BLOWN FUNERAL. SO WHY NOT RESPECT HIS WISHES? SHELBY ZIMMERMAN SPENT COUNTLESS NIGHTS BEHIND THE BAR, MIXING UP PHILIP’S FAVORITE DRINK, RUM AND DIET EXTRA LIME. TWO USUALLY, IF HE WAS, IF HIS NEPHEW WAS WITH HIM AND HE WASN’T DRIVING, MAYBE HE’D HAVE SEVEN. BUT USUALLY ABOUT TWO WAS THE LIMIT. BUT ABOVE ALL ELSE, PHILIP LOVED TO SERVE. PHILIP WAS A CORPORAL IN THE MARINE CORPS WITH TOURS IN SPAIN, GREECE AND FRANCE. AFTER THAT, HE WORKED FOR THE CITY OF CINCINNATI, THEN AS A FEMA INSPECTOR DURING HURRICANE KATRINA. RANDI. AA FIRE. READY AIM. FIVE FELLOW MARINES PERFORMED A 21 MUSKET SALUTE ON HAMILTON AVENUE AND PRESENTED AN AMERICAN FLAG TO HIS FAMILY, ALL FOR THE MAN WHO WORKED SO HARD SO HE COULD LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. PHILIP WILL BE BURIED TOMORROW AT VINE STREET CEMETERY. I’M REPORTIN
Veteran honored with horse-drawn procession, live jazz and visitation at favorite bar
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Updated: 11:25 PM CDT Jun 16, 2025
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A horse-drawn carriage, live jazz, and an open bar. That's what Philip Rotte wanted for his funeral, and that's what he got.Rotte died May 29 from complications of prostate cancer. He was 75 years old. Before he died, he told everyone he wanted his visitation at his favorite spot, Northside Tavern, in Ohio. He wanted it to be an open casket and an open bar."It's an open bar for beer and rum and coke, of course," said Rotte's nephew Frank. "He wanted to make sure he had one last hurrah with all his friends."Over the years, bartender Shelby Zimmerman says she's served countless rum and cokes to Rotte at the Tavern."We've had weddings, memorials, but never a full-blown funeral," Zimmerman said. "Why not respect his wishes?"Rotte's wishes also included a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout downtown. Tuesday morning, his casket was taken from Cincinnati Public Landing to Northside Tavern. His family followed behind in a wagon with a live saxophonist playing classical jazz.As much as Rotte loved a good time, above all else, he loved to serve. He was a corporal in the Marine Corps with tours in Spain, Greece and Italy. After that, he worked as a supervisor in maintenance for Greater Cincinnati Water Works, then as a FEMA inspector during Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.Outside the bar on Hamilton Avenue, fellow marines performed a 21-musket salute, played taps, and presented an American flag to Rotte's family.
CINCINNATI — A horse-drawn carriage, live jazz, and an open bar. That's what Philip Rotte wanted for his funeral, and that's what he got.
Rotte died May 29 from complications of prostate cancer. He was 75 years old. Before he died, he told everyone he wanted his visitation at his favorite spot, Northside Tavern, in Ohio. He wanted it to be an open casket and an open bar.
"It's an open bar for beer and rum and coke, of course," said Rotte's nephew Frank. "He wanted to make sure he had one last hurrah with all his friends."
Over the years, bartender Shelby Zimmerman says she's served countless rum and cokes to Rotte at the Tavern.
"We've had weddings, memorials, but never a full-blown funeral," Zimmerman said. "Why not respect his wishes?"
Rotte's wishes also included a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout downtown. Tuesday morning, his casket was taken from Cincinnati Public Landing to Northside Tavern. His family followed behind in a wagon with a live saxophonist playing classical jazz.
As much as Rotte loved a good time, above all else, he loved to serve. He was a corporal in the Marine Corps with tours in Spain, Greece and Italy. After that, he worked as a supervisor in maintenance for Greater Cincinnati Water Works, then as a FEMA inspector during Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters.
Outside the bar on Hamilton Avenue, fellow marines performed a 21-musket salute, played taps, and presented an American flag to Rotte's family.
