Roderick Lockwood MacDonald- San Luis Obispo High, CA

Please Feel Free To Leave A Comment Or A Memory You Had With Rod~

Photo by Shannon Ratliff Evans

  Roderick Lockwood MacDonald, 53, died April 2, 2010 at Walden, New York. Born in West Covina, California in 1956, Rod attended schools in Claremont and Pomona and graduated in 1974 from San Luis Obispo High School where he set a number of track records including surpassing a long-standing mile record. He completed 19 nationally-ranked marathons in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and other venues. Rod attended Humboldt State University, Cuesta Community College, and Orange County College (NY) where he earned a graphics degree in 2002. Rod is survived by Mary Ellen Matise, Walden; and Matthew Rector (Kim) of New York City. Also, his parents, Lachlan MacDonald and Karen Reinecke of Arroyo Grande, California, and brothers: Lawrence (Hannah) of Arlington, Virginia; Gordon (Belinda) of Norfolk, Virginia; and Craig of Pacific Grove, California; and his step-mother, Susan Lee of Santa Rosa, California. Rod was preceded in death by his birth mother, Dorothy Lockwood MacDonald and grandparents, Muriel and Henry Refo, all of Claremont. In addition he is survived by his aunt, Anne Lockwood Romasco of Brooklyn and numerous cousins and extended family. He was planting at the Town of Montgomery Community Garden, of which he was co-founder, when he became ill and was taken to St. Luke's Hospital where he died. Rod was well-known in Walden as an environmental activist, employee of Nexans Energy USA, Inc. and a clerk at Walden Public Library. He enjoyed birding, camping, fishing, discovering rock art sites and photography. A Walden community memorial will be held at the municipal building on Saturday, May 15, and interment will follow May 16 at the Episcopal Church, Long Beach, New York. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family suggests that donations be sent to: Friends of the Arroyo Grande Library, 800 West Branch Street, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420.
Published in Times Press Recorder from May 14 to May 18, 2010