Rodrigue G. Thibodeau

Rod was born in Medford, MA July 24, 1928 to Rodrigue Thibodeau and Marietta Michaud, and spent his youth in Gloucester, MA with his brothers Armand and Andre, and Paul. He graduated from Gloucester High School, where he studied art, and pursued advanced studies at The School of The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, after which he served in the Army in Korea and Japan. Rod worked as a SCUBA salvage diver, butcher and artist for Walker Hancock, sculpting and posing for the Pennsylvania Railroad World War II Memorial statue in Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station. He eventually joined a private research laboratory, where he conducted product testing and forensic investigative work. There was real “chemistry” when he met his wife, Joyce, a chemist at the lab.

Rod continued working in the research field at Monsanto, Kennecott Copper, GTE and Siemens AG, until well past retirement age, and was awarded several patents. An avid gardener, he enjoyed growing vegetables, and was always around the sea. He loved his life in Marblehead -fishing, lobstering, and swimming off Gas House Beach. He volunteered for the Old Marblehead Improvement Association OMIA and the NE Lobster Conservancy for many years.

Rod leaves behind his wife Joyce, daughter Christiane (Cos Cob, CT) and granddaughter, Brooke (New York, NY) and a brother Andre (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

A VFW Memorial Service will be held in the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm Street, Marblehead on Friday, January 22 at 10AM. Burial with honors to follow in Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead. All are welcome. Visitation will begin at 9AM prior to the service.