John James "Jack" Rodden

1933 - 2021

John "Jack" James Rodden
July 23, 1933 - February 4, 2021
Resident of Fremont
John ("Jack") James Rodden, born July 23, 1933 passed away on Feb 4, 2021 at 87 years of age, as a result of a Covid-19 infection. He was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Irene Monica Rodden, on Nov 30, 2016. The couple leave three sons, three grandsons, and two granddaughters.
Jack was proud to say that he was born and raised in San Francisco, though he lived most of his life in Los Altos. Jack liked to say he attended all the great western universities, BOTH of them. He completed an undergraduate and masters degree in Mechanical Engineering at The University of California (which is located in Berkeley, the others are "at places") in 1955 and later a Doctorate from Leland Stanford Junior University. He was very proud to say that he had three degrees in engineering, but that he was not a "real doctor", although he did personally deliver his second son at home!
Jack loved backpacking, hiking, art, history, cooking, classical music, travel, and learning. He was particularly fascinated with medieval and renaissance European art and history. He and his wife were able to travel to nearly every continent as a result of his career. He worked in the aerospace industry on rocket and satellite guidance & control systems, including on the Hubble Space Telescope (the part that worked) for Lockheed, Lockheed-Martin, and Space Systems Loral. He also served as President and a Fellow of the American Association of Aeronautics and Astronomics. But most of all, he loved his family and was extremely proud of his sons and grandchildren. Please view/sign guestbook: cusimanocolonial.com


View the online memorial for John "Jack" James Rodden