The passing of a great friend and colleague is always a sad occasion, but even more so when that special individual leaves unexpectedly at a young age. So is the case with Rod, who was a postdoctoral research associate in my group at The University of Texas from 2003–2006. All who knew him will miss his presence in our lives.

Rod joined my group after earning his PhD degree at MIT working on carbohydrates with Peter Seeberger. I knew from the moment Rod set foot in my office that he was special. He had an enthusiasm for chemistry that was absolutely infectious. He worked on several projects, but his greatest achievement was the completion of the formal total syntheses of the related alkaloids pinnaic acid and halichlorine by approaches that featured some of our early applications of olefin metathesis to the synthesis of complex natural products. Like all such projects, there were many obstacles, but Rod conquered each one through hard work, persistence, and creative problem solving. He was always upbeat, irrespective of the difficulties placed in his path. He was an inspiration to all who knew and interacted with him. He generously gave his time to help others, and he was always gracious in his interactions with his coworkers. The two photos that accompany these memories are from his going away party when he gave me a personal gift, and he received his Texas horns in recognition of his hard work and successes in the group.

Upon completion of his postdoctoral work, Rod joined the faculty in the Department of Chemistry at Temple University where he rose through the ranks and was recently promoted to Full Professor. I enjoyed reading his papers over the years because they were always captivating and scholarly, and they revealed Rod's unique and creative insights in organic chemistry. I had the pleasure of visiting the chemistry department at Temple in 2012 to give a seminar with Rod as my host. It was evident in talking with his colleagues that Rod was highly regarded, not just as a world-class scientist, but also as a cherished colleague and friend– I was not surprised.

Rod was a regular attendee at my birthday symposia at The University of Texas, and he was honored by the department as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2018 giving an amazing lecture that revealed the diversity of his interests and his enthusiasm for chemistry. After the seminar, Fay and I took him to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants – Fonda San Miguel. During that evening Rod recommended that we read "Why Buddhism is True" by Robert Wright. He said it had positively influenced him, so we read it. Rod was right, of course; it is a great read with important lessons for us all.

Fay, Nicole and I will always remember Rod's ever-present smile, his wit, and his infectious passion for science and life. We will miss him. Our prayers, sympathies and best wishes go to his wife Denise, their two daughters Gabby and Anna and the entire family during this difficult period of grief. We join you from afar to celebrate his life, knowing that in time his memory and his legacy will wash away the tears and bring smiles to each of our faces.

“Organic chemistry can now make one completely mad. It seems to me like a primeval forest in a tropical country, full of the most peculiar things, an enormous thicket with now end and no way out”.

Friedrich Wöhler (1800 –1880)

This quote was printed on the back of a T-shirt the front of which said "Welcome to the jungle" in German (See picture). Rod had this shirt made during the first year in graduate school where he was among my first four coworkers. He actually started before me at MIT and helped set up the lab. 

Rod came up with many ideas from day one. The most ifluential one was likely "Rod´s linker" that laid the foundation to our work on automated glycan assembly. He completed several projects and was an integral part of the team that made our group so successful.

Rod liked a good party and I recall several memorable group parties where he was right in the middle of things. 

The German word "Doktorvater" = "Father of the PhD" describes my feelings today: it is difficult to lose a friend and colleague but loosing your "scientific children" too early is particularly sad.

My deep condolences to Rod´s real family from one of the members of Rod´s scientific family.

Peter Seeberger