Clyde A. Rodbell

Mr. Rodbell was born in Atlanta on August 16, 1927, and was the son of the late Joseph Henry Rodbell and the late Fannie Turetsky Rodbell of Atlanta. Mr. Rodbell is survived by his wife of 40 years, the former Robin Graham McKenzie of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, their child, Lindsey Rodbell Palangio and her husband, Jason, his (Clyde’s) four children, Marsha R. Cintorino and her husband, Tony, of Atlanta, Jeffrey D. Rodbell and his wife, Margaret, of Atlanta, Keith S. Rodbell of Los Angeles, CA, Kim R. Allison of Atlanta and his grandchildren Trent Allison, Amanda Allison, and Alexandra Rodbell.

Mr. Rodbell graduated from Boys High School in 1945 and received his Bachelor of Business Administration from Emory School of Business in 1949. Mr. Rodbell was a dedicated alumnus and served on the Emory University Board of Visitors(Chairman 1997 & 1998).

After graduation from Emory University, Mr. Rodbell joined his brother, the late Leonard Rodbell, at Apex Supply Company where he worked for 54 years, serving as President then Chairman until the company was sold to The Home Depot in 2000. Apex started as Capitol Hide & Metal, a scrap metal business, founded in 1911 by their father, Joseph. The business grew into a plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, kitchen, bath and specialty building products distributor receiving many accolades and awards including twice selected as “Wholesaler of the Year” by Supply House Times magazine and the “Family Business of the Year” presented by the Family Enterprise Center of Kennesaw State College.

During his career, Mr. Rodbell served on a number of boards, including American Jewish Committee (honored as 1984 Man-of-the-Year), Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith, Atlanta Jewish Federation, Standard Club (Vice President), Kidney Foundation of Georgia (President), Southern Wholesalers Association, Georgia Citizens for Good Government, Wholesalers Association of Georgia (President), Shepherd Center, Coverdell and Company, Camp Sunshine, Atlanta Rotary Club (Vice President), American Red Cross, and several Industry Advisory Boards.

Mr. Rodbell held a lifelong commitment to philanthropy, eventually creating the Clyde Rodbell Family Philanthropic Foundation. His support of charities ranged from The Temple Congregation, United Jewish Appeal, Shepherd Center, Atlanta Jewish Community Center, The National Kidney Foundation, Camp Sunshine and Rotary Foundation. He was awarded a Community Achievement Award by Atlanta Chapter American ORT in 2003 and the 2004 Heroes, Saints and Legends Award from Wesley Woods Center at Emory University.

Mr. Rodbell was a pioneer in championing the Republican party in the state of Georgia and was actively involved for the Fund for America’s Future, Presidential Candidate George H.W. Bush – National Finance Committee Georgia State Co-Chairman, elected to the Kennedy Center – President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts, member of the Atlanta Regional Panel on the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, and fundraised tirelessly for conservative candidates and incumbents around the state and nation.

Since his retirement, he and his wife, Robin, spent 5 months out of the year at their home in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he began a new hobby of painting.

Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, the 13th of January at one o’clock at The Temple with Rabbi Peter Berg officiating. Friends are cordially invited to visit with the family following the service at a reception that will also take place at The Temple. Prior to the memorial the family will have gathered for a private graveside service at Arlington Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to: Shepherd Center 2020 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30309, Camp Sunshine 1850 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta 1440 Spring Street, NW, Atlanta, GA 30309.