Thomas Michael Rodgers III

Thomas Michael Rodgers III, a retired Industrial Systems Engineer with a Master of Business Administration, passed away on September 6, 2026. He was born on March 5, 1951, in New Orleans, LA. He was 75 years old.

Mr. Rodgers is survived by his loving, devoted, beloved wife of 29 years, Catherine Joann Rodgers; three sisters, Maureen Clifford (Jack), Carolyn Melcher (Archibald), and Sharon Yadven (Mitchell); one brother, John Patrick Rodgers; a sister-in-law, Patricia Ipser Rodgers; eight nieces and nephews, Kathleen and Megan Clifford, Archibald Melcher (Jessica), Andrew Melcher, Adeline Melcher Pasalic (Dominik), William John Rodgers II (Micah), and Sarah and Maxwell Yadven; and two great-nieces, Cecilia Melcher and Annie Melcher. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Michael Rodgers, Jr. and Mathilda Ducos Rodgers; two brothers, William John Rodgers and Michael James Rodgers; and one sister, Mary Anne Rodgers.

He graduated from Jesuit High School in New Orleans, LA in 1969. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from California State University, San Francisco, CA focusing on leadership with a master's thesis titled “Project Leadership / Beyond Project Management.” He also earned a two-year night school Certification in Construction Management from the University of California Extension, Berkeley, CA as well as additional night school certifications in mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering.

Mr. Rodgers consistently aimed for excellence in all his pursuits. His story exemplifies strength, flexibility, and a steadfast commitment to professional growth and community service. Growing up in Louisiana, he demonstrated leadership and determination, excelling in academics, extracurriculars, and community service. These qualities established the foundation for a career that spanned forty-four years across five industries and three countries (United States, United Arab Emirates, and India), leaving a legacy of expertise, commitment, and service.

Throughout his career, Mr. Rodgers has held various management positions across different industries. He was accepted into the Amoco/Pan American Petroleum Company management training cooperative program while in engineering school at LSU, which helped fund his undergraduate education. After obtaining his engineering degree, he worked in the electronics industry with Siemens-Allis for four years, choosing their management program after receiving an offer from Jack Welch’s General Electric program.

Following Siemens Allis, Mr. Rodgers joined McDermott International to return to the oil and gas industry, initially as an instrumentation and controls systems design engineer, and then as a project manager in various locations including New Orleans and Amelia, LA; Houston, TX; Dubai, UAE; and Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India.

During his tenure with McDermott International designing and building offshore oil and gas platforms, Mr. Rodgers developed expertise in managing complex, multinational projects, which laid the groundwork for his future roles in other industries. His responsibilities took him to diverse locations around the globe, offering him exposure to a wide array of cultural and industrial practices. This global perspective enriched his comprehension of engineering systems and project management, enabling him to adapt his methods to the unique challenges presented by each region and each industry.

A notable achievement during his tenure at McDermott International was serving as the project engineer responsible for the hookup, startup, and commissioning of two large offshore oil and gas platforms in the Arabian Sea, approximately 10 miles apart and 100 miles off the coast of India in 1981-1982. This phase of the project took approximately a year to complete, and was successfully handed over to the client, the Oil and Natural Gas Commission of India (ONGC), and Engineers India Limited (EIL).

After working for McDermott International for ten years, and with the petroleum business in decline during the 1980’s, Mr. Rodgers joined Honeywell Industrial Automation Controls (IAC) and subsequently Foxboro Intelligent Automation (I/A) in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA, focused on the power industry (Pacific Gas & Electric and cogeneration plants), as well as the mining, paper, and agricultural industries in Northern California, Southern Oregon, and Northern Nevada. His focus also included the engineering firms that served these industries, such as Bechtel Engineering and Fluor Corporation in the San Francisco Bay Area. He lived in California for 28 years. For the last 12 years of his career, Mr. Rodgers worked in the biotech industry for Genentech, Inc. at the company headquarters in South San Francisco, CA as a program manager overseeing major energy, environmental, and facilities projects for the company.

Throughout his career, he maintained affiliations with various professional societies. He was a member of the International Society of Automation, the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, and the Project Management Institute.

Mr. Rodgers achieved the Eagle Scout Award in the Boy Scouts of America in 1966, while a member of Post 64 affiliated with St. Andrew the Apostle school in Algiers, LA and was a member of the National Eagle Scout Association. While in California, Mr. Rodgers volunteered as a coach and referee for track, baseball, and basketball for the Contra Costa County Special Olympics Program. He was an active member in Toastmasters International, serving as president of Pacifica Toastmasters in Pacifica, CA, and subsequently as an area governor in the National Toastmasters District 4, overseeing one of the areas between San Francisco and San Jose. Mr. Rodgers was a member of the Sierra Club in the San Francisco Bay Area, which facilitated the pursuit of his outdoor hobbies. His hobbies included hiking in state and national forests, exploring the trails at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, traveling across various regions of the country, visiting historical landmarks and national parks, reading, public speaking, and staying physically fit.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in the Catholic Church and received the 4th Degree Exemplification. He became a member of the Knights for three years at St. Peter Parish in Pacifica, CA. He was a member at Blessed Sacrament, Good Shepherd and Saint John Paul II Parishes in Tallahassee, FL for 10 years during his retirement.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Friday, October 9, 2026, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA. Visitation will be held from 10 AM – 12 PM with a memorial Mass to begin at 12 PM. Inurnment will follow at All Saints Mausoleum – St. Raphael Corridor.