Rod passed away, Wednesday, January 11th, at Hopewell House in Portland, Oregon after a brief illness. Rod and Suzanne (Suzy) were married in Portland on September 16th, 1949. They moved from Portland to Lake Oswego and resided in the same home for the past 64 years. Rod served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Philadelphia in the Atlantic theater of operations during the latter part of WWII. One of the highlights of his naval service was when the USS Philadelphia escorted Harry Truman to Antwerp for the Potsdam Conference. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, he enrolled at Lewis & Clark College and pursued a teaching degree. After graduation, he began 34 year career with the Portland Public School District. He loved teaching and was beloved by the hundreds of students who were in his classes. Shortly after beginning his career, he enrolled at the University of Oregon where he completed the Master’s Degree in Education.

While at Lewis & Clark College, Rod was an outstanding member of the men’s basketball team, who won the NCAA Championship for small colleges in 1949. He played guard and at one time, held the national record for free throw percentages. After completing college, Rod continued to be involved in basketball, both coaching and refereeing high school and college games in the greater Portland area. When his son Brian started playing basketball at Lakeridge High School, he stepped away from refereeing so that he was able to be attend Brian’s games.

Rod enjoyed many hobbies throughout his life which included playing golf, fishing, wood carving and, during the summer, was a ticket seller at the Multnomah Kennel Club greyhound racing track.

After Rod retired from teaching, he remained actively involved at Lewis & Clark College where he was on the board of the Albany Society, and as a member of the Society, helped to select individuals to the Lewis & Clark College Hall of Fame.

Rod is survived by his wife, Suzy, daughter Kathryn and her son Kevin Myers, his wife Kaley and their newborn baby boy, Kade. He is also survived by his son Brian, and Brian’s partner, Lisa Perry, his children Megan Lewis (James) and their children Madeline and Alexandra; his daughter Hilary Daniel (Adam). He was “Grandpa Rod” to his beloved Grace and Hope Birchard.

Celebration of life will be held and Lake Grove Presbyterian Church on Wednesday January 18 at 1:00 pm.

Contributions may be made to Lewis & Clark College Athletic Department or Lake Grove Presbyterian Church.

Memorial Service

1:00 PM ,Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Lake Grove Presbyterian Church