Marilyn M. Roderick

Marilyn Morin Roderick of Fall River passed on April 17, 2025, at the age of 91. She was the daughter of the late Helen Flaherty Morin and Raymond Morin and was the wife of the late Joseph Roderick Jr. for more than 60 years.

Marilyn Roderick, once named the Grand Damme of Fall River politics served the city for over 50 years as a teacher, public administrator, city counselor and school committee member. On her retirement in December, 2011 from the school committee the editorial board of the Fall River Herald News heralded Marilyn as “a true public servant”. She loved this city, its people, its diversity and she was its champion. She passionately believed that every person deserves respect regardless of their background, economic status or situation in life and saw her role as being an advocate for the people of the city.

Roderick, a pioneer in women’s politics first ran for city council in 1975 at the age of 42. Two years later she would run for mayor in a close race that she lost by 105 votes. For the next 15 years she served on the city council serving terms as both chair and vice-chair and after retiring from teaching, was elected to the Fall River School Committee where she served another 10 years.

Marilyn was happiest when supporting and advocating for teachers and students throughout the city’s schools. She started teaching in 1959 at Morton Junior High School where she met Joseph Roderick, her husband of 62 years. For the next 15 years she taught in Fall River at the Dubuque and Laurel Lake elementary schools and after being elected to the city council, taught in Swansea MA.

She will be remembered for her poise, her impeccable taste and for her willingness to improve the lives of others. She was a maverick in her own right for many years; the only woman holding elected office in the city and the first woman to run for mayor. She is often recognized as being a role model for women in politics in Southern New England.

Marilyn was a proud graduate of Durfee High School and always felt a strong connection to the school, alum and students. She graduated from Southeastern Massachusetts University and went on to complete both a master’s degree in education and a CAGS in reading from Boston University.

In addition to her elected public service, Marilyn loved the Fall River Public Library and served on its board for many years, including serving as Board Chair. She was a strong advocate for access to addiction care and served as a board member and Board Chair for SSTAR for over thirty years.

When asked to reflect on her years of public service Marilyn responded: “I hope my legacy is that I wanted to make the city a good place to live, work and bring up children as best as possible,” “It’s a great city and I’d like to think I helped in a way.”

On our mother’s passing we would like to honor her contribution to our lives, to the lives of so many children and citizens of Fall River who she has touched and to the city which she served with grace and pride.

She is survived by her three children and their families Meryl Moss and her husband Randy of Westport, Melissa Roderick and her wife Shelley Fried of Middletown, RI; and Jason Roderick and his wife Kelly Linn of Warwick, RI; four grandchildren, Jessica Moss Farentinos and her husband Jackson, Christopher Joseph “CJ” Moss and his wife Bethany, Jordan Roderick-Fried and Greyson Roderick. She also leaves two great grandchildren, James Randall Farentinos and Scarlett Angela Farentinos.

Her Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, April 28 at 10:00 AM in Holy Name Parish, 709 Hanover Street, Fall River. Relatives and friends are asked to report directly to the church by 9:45 AM. Burial will be private. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Cherry Place, 178 Winter St., Fall River.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Marilyn’s name to the Fall River Public Library Foundation, 104 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720.