Rodney William Eldridge, 78, of Skaneateles, passed away on March 24, 2024.
Rod was born in 1946 in Malone, NY to Norris and Rita (Perry) Eldridge. He was proud of his upbringing and wrote, “I was raised with a very sound moral background and a strong work ethic.” Growing up, he spent countless hours playing ball with his childhood best friend, Tom Scott.
In 1963, Rod graduated from Franklin Academy and was the first in his family to attend college. At State University College at Potsdam, he majored in secondary social studies, minored in English, and played soccer and baseball (as catcher). He caught the attention of talent scouts and was asked to try out for a professional baseball team. They invited him to spring training, but he decided to finish college instead, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967.
While on summer break between his junior and senior years of college, Rod met Ethel Ann Brockway, “the girl of my dreams and the sweetest girl in the world.” Rod and his friends were playing darts at The Franklin in Malone when Ann and her friends decided to challenge them. Rod and Ann struck up a conversation and discovered that Ann, a newly-graduated nurse working at the hospital, was living right across the street from Rod’s family home.
Rod and Ann were married in August 1967 and moved to Copenhagen, NY, where he began his teaching career at Copenhagen Central School. During his 17 years there as a social studies teacher and baseball coach, Rod inspired a love of learning in his students and became a mentor to many. He was especially proud of the high scores earned by his advanced placement students, and he enjoyed taking exchange students from Copenhagen, Denmark on trips to Niagara Falls with his family. Many of his colleagues became friends. For many years, Rod and his best friend, Ray O’Brien operated R & R Decorators, painting houses during summers and school breaks.
After taking graduate courses in Education and History (American Studies) at SUNY Oswego, Rod obtained his NYS permanent certification in Social Studies (7-12) in 1972. In the 1980s, while working full-time and raising a family, Rod earned his Master of Arts degree in Education Administration from St. Lawrence University. In 1984, the family relocated to Binghamton when Rod became the Assistant High School Principal & Pupil Personnel Director at Chenango Forks High School.
In 1989, when their children were grown, Rod and Ann moved to a beautiful old Victorian home in Bainbridge, NY when he became the Junior-Senior High School Principal at Bainbridge-Guilford Central School. There, he assisted teachers in implementing new teaching methods and made Shared Decision Making a reality in the district.
He was an inspiring educator and leader with an unwavering commitment to kids. As a teacher and principal, he was firm but fair – a problem solver with a great sense of humor who garnered the respect of students, parents, and colleagues. A superintendent once told him he had “the unique ability to tell a teacher or parent to go to hell in such a way they looked forward to the trip.” He always put students first, believing that “All too often educators forget that the main reason we are here at all is the kids.”
Rod spent the last nine years of his education career in the Chenango Valley Central School District as Middle & High School Principal. As he wrote in his 2001 retirement letter, “After 34 years in education it became apparent that I had spent enough time doing what I had always wanted to do. That was to help kids and teach. In retrospect, I wouldn’t have done anything different regarding my decision to go into education.”
After his retirement in 2001, Rod and Ann spent time with family, grew their antiques business, and did some traveling. Family vacations to Hilton Head, Williamsburg, and the Outer Banks with their children and grandchildren are legendary.
Rod never sat still. He lived out his strong sense of service through many years with Kiwanis, receiving the President Award in recognition of outstanding leadership and service. He was always willing to help others – at St. James and Augustinian Academy, with renovation projects at several of Janine and Todd’s homes, and by helping build Jon and Suzi’s house, to name just a few.
Quick-witted, fun-loving, and engaging, Rod made an impression on everyone he met. Being an educator was just his nature, and he was always teaching his children and grandchildren, taking them on educational outings and trips and showing them how to do things with their hands – painting, carpentry, even taking apart mechanical engines and putting them back together.
To his children and grandchildren, he passed along his love of sports, especially baseball and golf. For many years, he was an avid golfer. He passed along his love of music. He played the trumpet, guest starred in school musicals, always had music playing on the radio, and strongly supported music programs in his schools. He passed along his love of dogs. Sheika, a Siberian Husky, was his most special companion.
Rod and Ann relocated to the village of Skaneateles in 2022 to be closer to family in their golden years. He enjoyed taking long walks around the village and taking selfies with his buddy Todd.
Rod was a devoted son and husband, loving father and grandfather, supportive brother and uncle, and loyal friend. His high school yearbook quote characterized him perfectly: "Quiet and well conducted, but always ready for fun." Rod’s wit, wisdom, kindness, and influence will continue to live on in the hearts and memories of all who loved, respected, and admired him.
Several years ago, Rod began a journey toward the sunset of his life. On March 24, 2024, as the sun was setting, his journey ended. Rest now, Rod/Dad/Grampy. You taught us well.
He is survived by his wife Ann, of Skaneateles, NY; daughter and son-in-law Janine (Eldridge) and Todd Savage of Skaneateles, NY; son and daughter-in-law Jonathan and Suzanne Eldridge of Owings Mills, MD; grandchildren Krista Savage and Michael Newton of Alden NY, Adam and Cassandra Savage of Skaneateles, NY, Brock Savage of Endicott, NY, Spencer Eldridge of Dayton, OH, and Nathan Eldridge of Owings Mills, MD; and sister and brother-in-law Donna and Leonard Farishian of North Fort Myers, FL.
Services in Skaneateles will be private. A Celebration of Life Mass will be held at a future date in Fort Covington, New York. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Rodney W. Eldridge college scholarship fund at Copenhagen Central School – PO Box 30, Copenhagen, NY 13626, ATTENTION: Business Office.
To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.
Rod was born in 1946 in Malone, NY to Norris and Rita (Perry) Eldridge. He was proud of his upbringing and wrote, “I was raised with a very sound moral background and a strong work ethic.” Growing up, he spent countless hours playing ball with his childhood best friend, Tom Scott.
In 1963, Rod graduated from Franklin Academy and was the first in his family to attend college. At State University College at Potsdam, he majored in secondary social studies, minored in English, and played soccer and baseball (as catcher). He caught the attention of talent scouts and was asked to try out for a professional baseball team. They invited him to spring training, but he decided to finish college instead, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967.
While on summer break between his junior and senior years of college, Rod met Ethel Ann Brockway, “the girl of my dreams and the sweetest girl in the world.” Rod and his friends were playing darts at The Franklin in Malone when Ann and her friends decided to challenge them. Rod and Ann struck up a conversation and discovered that Ann, a newly-graduated nurse working at the hospital, was living right across the street from Rod’s family home.
Rod and Ann were married in August 1967 and moved to Copenhagen, NY, where he began his teaching career at Copenhagen Central School. During his 17 years there as a social studies teacher and baseball coach, Rod inspired a love of learning in his students and became a mentor to many. He was especially proud of the high scores earned by his advanced placement students, and he enjoyed taking exchange students from Copenhagen, Denmark on trips to Niagara Falls with his family. Many of his colleagues became friends. For many years, Rod and his best friend, Ray O’Brien operated R & R Decorators, painting houses during summers and school breaks.
After taking graduate courses in Education and History (American Studies) at SUNY Oswego, Rod obtained his NYS permanent certification in Social Studies (7-12) in 1972. In the 1980s, while working full-time and raising a family, Rod earned his Master of Arts degree in Education Administration from St. Lawrence University. In 1984, the family relocated to Binghamton when Rod became the Assistant High School Principal & Pupil Personnel Director at Chenango Forks High School.
In 1989, when their children were grown, Rod and Ann moved to a beautiful old Victorian home in Bainbridge, NY when he became the Junior-Senior High School Principal at Bainbridge-Guilford Central School. There, he assisted teachers in implementing new teaching methods and made Shared Decision Making a reality in the district.
He was an inspiring educator and leader with an unwavering commitment to kids. As a teacher and principal, he was firm but fair – a problem solver with a great sense of humor who garnered the respect of students, parents, and colleagues. A superintendent once told him he had “the unique ability to tell a teacher or parent to go to hell in such a way they looked forward to the trip.” He always put students first, believing that “All too often educators forget that the main reason we are here at all is the kids.”
Rod spent the last nine years of his education career in the Chenango Valley Central School District as Middle & High School Principal. As he wrote in his 2001 retirement letter, “After 34 years in education it became apparent that I had spent enough time doing what I had always wanted to do. That was to help kids and teach. In retrospect, I wouldn’t have done anything different regarding my decision to go into education.”
After his retirement in 2001, Rod and Ann spent time with family, grew their antiques business, and did some traveling. Family vacations to Hilton Head, Williamsburg, and the Outer Banks with their children and grandchildren are legendary.
Rod never sat still. He lived out his strong sense of service through many years with Kiwanis, receiving the President Award in recognition of outstanding leadership and service. He was always willing to help others – at St. James and Augustinian Academy, with renovation projects at several of Janine and Todd’s homes, and by helping build Jon and Suzi’s house, to name just a few.
Quick-witted, fun-loving, and engaging, Rod made an impression on everyone he met. Being an educator was just his nature, and he was always teaching his children and grandchildren, taking them on educational outings and trips and showing them how to do things with their hands – painting, carpentry, even taking apart mechanical engines and putting them back together.
To his children and grandchildren, he passed along his love of sports, especially baseball and golf. For many years, he was an avid golfer. He passed along his love of music. He played the trumpet, guest starred in school musicals, always had music playing on the radio, and strongly supported music programs in his schools. He passed along his love of dogs. Sheika, a Siberian Husky, was his most special companion.
Rod and Ann relocated to the village of Skaneateles in 2022 to be closer to family in their golden years. He enjoyed taking long walks around the village and taking selfies with his buddy Todd.
Rod was a devoted son and husband, loving father and grandfather, supportive brother and uncle, and loyal friend. His high school yearbook quote characterized him perfectly: "Quiet and well conducted, but always ready for fun." Rod’s wit, wisdom, kindness, and influence will continue to live on in the hearts and memories of all who loved, respected, and admired him.
Several years ago, Rod began a journey toward the sunset of his life. On March 24, 2024, as the sun was setting, his journey ended. Rest now, Rod/Dad/Grampy. You taught us well.
He is survived by his wife Ann, of Skaneateles, NY; daughter and son-in-law Janine (Eldridge) and Todd Savage of Skaneateles, NY; son and daughter-in-law Jonathan and Suzanne Eldridge of Owings Mills, MD; grandchildren Krista Savage and Michael Newton of Alden NY, Adam and Cassandra Savage of Skaneateles, NY, Brock Savage of Endicott, NY, Spencer Eldridge of Dayton, OH, and Nathan Eldridge of Owings Mills, MD; and sister and brother-in-law Donna and Leonard Farishian of North Fort Myers, FL.
Services in Skaneateles will be private. A Celebration of Life Mass will be held at a future date in Fort Covington, New York. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Rodney W. Eldridge college scholarship fund at Copenhagen Central School – PO Box 30, Copenhagen, NY 13626, ATTENTION: Business Office.
To send condolences, visit: robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.
