Dr. Robert "Bob" L. Roderick Surveyor Program Manager Hughes Aircraft Company.

Born: October 19, 1925 Died: August 12, 2003 PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. Robert Lee Roderick, passed away Tuesday, August 12, 2003 in Palm Beach Gardens at the age of 77. A Chicago native, Bob attended Iowa State University prior to service in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1946. Following his war service, he earned a bachelor of science degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1948. Bob received his Ph.D. at Brown University in 1951. Here is a unique photo of Bob defending his Doctoral thesis on square roots: Dr. Roderick's aerospace career included such positions as staff scientist with Specialties Inc. from 1951-1955. While working there he developed and patented the Instantaneous Vertical Speed Indicator, which is presently used as standard equipment on most commercial jets and a continuing mainstay of the nation's aerospace program. In 1955, he joined Hughes Aircraft Company. Aside from his responsibilities for the design of major systems including global surveillance, ballistic missile defense and penetration systems, Dr. Roderick was appointed surveyor program manager. How well he executed his responsibilities was demonstrated by the flight of Surveyor I in June 1966, whose success established a major milestone in world space exploration. In 1968, Dr. Roderick joined Litton Industries Marine Group and was elected corporate vice president in 1970. He later returned to Hughes Aircraft in 1973 as director of engineering for the aerospace group and became vice president of Corporate Technology Centers from 1987 until his retirement in 1990. Dr. Roderick's outstanding achievements earned him numerous awards, in 1967 he received Illinois Institute of Technology Alumni Association Special Recognition Award, Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Space Award Gold Medal and Certificate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Public Service Award, and U.S. Camera Excellence in Photography. In 1970, the American Machinist's Association recognized his contributions to the field and in 1984 was inducted into the Illinois Institute of Technology's Hall of Fame. Dr. Roderick's professional and scholastic memberships include the U.S. Army Defense Preparedness Association, Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Phi and Eta Kappa Nu. Bob was an avid tennis player and was a member of PGA National Country Club. Bob was preceded in death by his first wife, Lisa, in 1995. Survivors include his wife, Susan Updegrave Roderick of Palm Beach Gardens; his children, Diane Gale Roderick and Robert Kirk (Ellen) Roderick; stepchildren, Elizabeth E. Rutnick (Douglas) and Stephen J. Eckert (Jane); grandchildren, Sara and Laurie Roderick, Alixandra and Douglas Rutnick and Hannah and Samantha Eckert. A private memorial service will be held in Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the American Lung Association of Southeast Florida, 2701 N. Australian Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407 in memory of Robert Lee Roderick.

September 1966