Juan Lavestque Rollin

Juan Lavestque Rollin was born in Akron, Ohio on October 18, 1968 to Paul and Ellen Rollin. He was the oldest of three boys. He was always a child who had a mind of his own. At times that included refining his toddler cooking skills while attempting to make breakfast for his mom or being a role model of what to do and not do for his younger brothers, Paul Jr and Tedrick. If you ask him, his brothers or any family member, it usually was what not to do. Juan was baptized and spent his formative years as a junior usher board member at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church under the watchful eye of Ellen. He enjoyed the structure that school provided which allowed him to hone his artistic, comedic and verbal sparring skills. He began that journey at Stewart School, Margaret Park Elementary, Innes Junior High and finally Akron Kenmore High School. He developed such a reputation for playing “The Dozens” that school usually started an hour earlier than usual for him so that he could hold a Master Class of Jokes with those that chose to attend. Juan was a member of the Kenmore Cardinal Football team.

 In 1987, Juan graduated with Comedic Honors. He immediately took those talents on the road, followed in his father’s footsteps and enlisted in the United States Army. He did his Basic Training at Fort Sill, OK. From there, he was a 109th Howitzer Cannon Crew Member at Fort Stewart, GA (1987-89). He was the stationed at Corlu, Turkey (1989-90) as a Nuclear Bunker Security Officer. From there, he returned to Fort Sill, OK to be deployed for Operation Desert Storm. While at Fort Sill, he became a proud Master Mason in the I H Clayborn Military Lodge #61. After a stint at Camp Stanley, South Korea, Juan finished his military career as a Corporal at Fort Lewis, Washington and was honorably discharged in 1995. Upon leaving the military, Juan returned to Akron and eventually moved to Columbus to be with his favorite brother, Tedrick. 

He met and married Amanda Hayes on August 25th, 2001, welcoming a beautiful soul, Lateayra Harrington, into the Rollin family and his life. In 2003, Juan and Amanda were blessed with Trynyty Michael Ellis Rollin as the first grandson. He took taking care of Trynyty and maintaining his blended family with Amanda, Lati and Kobe as his highest calling. Juan’s devotion to helping others continued in his career path working as a home health aide for many years. He ended his working career at Napa Auto Distribution Center in Columbus, OH as an Inventory Control Specialist for 6 years in September 2024.Juan was truly unique and believed in pushing boundaries. He always knew what was going to be the next big thing and helped to usher in that trend. Be it high top fades, bogart baggies, school boy glasses and knowing the next hot artist. He even went as far as making his own starch for creases so sharp, they could cut bread. It’s not an exaggeration to say, if Juan was in a room, he would be the funniest and most stylish. He always left a lasting impression on you when you met him. Juan was an artist by nature. His work on paper was only rivaled by his skill at transforming ordinary into extraordinary creations through different artistic mediums. The items he created will be cherished by all he loved. His love for knowledge, art, music and cars (Orenthal, the Bronco) was only exceeded by his love for his friends and family

.His greatest creation and love was Trynyty. Trynyty was Juan’s touchstone. He tried to pour everything that was good into him. He wanted to guide Trynyty to be confident and independent without following or making some of the same mistakes he made. Juan loved Trynyty more than life and was proud to shepherd him into adulthood. Depending on which side of the Libra scale you were on, Juan could have been your favorite friend, brother or nephew. He was most definitely everybody’s favorite cousin, If he wasn’t your favorite cousin, he was your favorite cousin’s favorite cousin. He was Ellen’s favorite firstborn son, Paul Jr’s and Tedrick’s favorite big brother, Harper’s favorite Uncle, besides her Uncle Ted, and the Lee/Rollin Family’s favorite comedian. He was loved and will be missed. 

Juan is preceded in death by maternal grandparents Bright (Hattie) Lee; paternal grandparents Lannie (Mary Ellen) Rollin; father Paul Ellis Rollin, Sr; Aunts Merancia Rollin, Mary Lee, Elizabeth Rollin, Michelle Parker; Uncles Victor Rollin, Charlie Roby, Willie Frank Mayes, Sr and nephew Trey Rollin.

He leaves to continue his legacy Trynyty Rollin, Lateayra Harrington, Adam Baker, Kobe Lance and Harper Rollin. Mother Ellen Rollin. Siblings Paul (Jessica) Rollin, Jr and Tedrick (Ashonda) Rollin. Brother-in-law Michael Hayes. Aunts and Uncles: Freddie Rollin Sr, Patricia Rollin, Levester Parker Sr, Willie “Deeda” Davis, Lizzie Mae Mayes, Bright (Violet) Lee, Thelma Jones Roby, Joyce Dewberry, Bernard (Kym) Lee and Yvonne (Eddie) Johnston. Favorite first cousins: Valerie Rollin, Freddie (Tracy) Rollin Jr, Anthony (Cheryl) Rollin, Mary Ellen Rollin, Angelina Rollin, Crystal Winstead, Twilla Porter, Mykiecha (Don) Robinson, Brandi (Lamar) Sheppard, Victor Rollin, Levester (Keisha) Parker, Sunsharia Parker, Willie (Janaye) Mayes, Jeffrey Mayes, Korey (Tamara) Mayes, Yolanda Jones, Karen Jones, John (Vergayle) Jones, Derrick (Connie) Dewberry, Sonia Dewberry, Tiffany (Ed) Edwards, Errica Lee, Chelynne (Brad) Butler, Veronica Lee, Marcus Lee, Vanessa Cunningham, Larry Lee and Kyle Lee. Special friends: Amanda (Cobi) Grinage, Lawrence Chavis, Johnny Rivers, Dawn Humphries Childress, Shaun Cooper, Duane Byrd, Dionne Richardson, Michael Palmer, Al Watson, Tim Terpin, Willie Pearson, Veronica Robinson, Haatim Gye-Nyame, Calvin Middlebrooks, Yolanda Shealy, Darnell Wagner, Kent Shoemo, Tondra and Tracy McDaniel and Douglas Moses.