Edward J. Rode

Edward James Rode, 85 of Bogota, passed away on December 6th. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Janet Rode, nee Hamiga, and their two children John and Yvonne. He was born February 17, 1940, to James G. Rode and Mary Rode, nee Castle in New York City. He is predeceased by his siblings James Rode, Eleanor Jensen, and Joan Kempf.

Ed graduated from Chelsea Vocational High School as a cabinet maker. After briefly working as an electrician’s helper in Sommerville, NJ, he joined the Marine Corps and served from January 1959 though January 1963, including 14 months on Okinawa, Japan with the 12th Marines as an Assistant Marine Corps Postal Clerk. He was joined in the USMC by his childhood friends and honorary brothers, Luis “Red” Ronda and Ismael “Poppy” Ronda. The Ronda family moved to Fort Lee while all were still enlisted and asked Ed to join them. One block from the new Ronda residence lived his future wife, Janet Hamiga, who he wed on February 8th, 1964. Ed and Janet moved to Bogota in 1967 and lived in the same house ever since.

After his service in the Marine Corps, Ed worked at Ferguson Propellors in Hoboken for 24 years as a machinist working on nuclear submarine and destroyer propellors. He then worked for the Port Authority of NY/NJ starting in 1988 as a machine mechanic with SEMAC, repairing all manner of moving equipment at the PA bridges, tunnels, and airports. This time included searching for victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, which led to his receiving an Award of Excellence for “extraordinary level of service, effort and accomplishment during in or in the aftermath of the attack”. After injuring his knee while on site, he was asked to create memorial crosses using beams from the towers, hoping to bring solace to family members. Ed retired from the Port Authority in 2010.

Ed was known by all for his many creative pursuits and meticulous craftsmanship. He was skilled in calligraphy, photography, woodworking along with welding and metalwork and generously shared his knowledge, enthusiasm, and the gifts of his talents with all. He volunteered as a photographer for the Bogota Fire, Police, Auxiliary Police, Police Reserve and First Aid and Emergency Squad, and Rescue Squad for more than 50 years. In recognition, he was named the Bergen County Volunteer of the Year in 1993 and the Borough named April 22, 1993, as Edward Rode Day.

Edward Rode loved stamp collecting, daguerreotypes, poetry, and cake.