Rodney A. Hopkins

Rodney Hopkins, of Stoneham, passed away on August 1st. "Rod" leaves his wife Josephine, daughters Nancy of Dracut, MA, and Valerie, with her husband Chuck, of Kingston, NH, along with his son Ron and his wife Beverly of Naples, FL. "Papa" was the proud grandfather of Lisa Hopkins of Coral Springs, FL, Ryan Geary of Amesbury, MA, and Toni Hopkins of Pembroke Pines, FL. Rod also leaves several nieces and nephews.

Rod was a graduate of Malden (MA) High School and Anna Maria College. Rod's early career was focused within the space industry of the 1960's where he worked on several projects, one being the heat shields used on manned space capsules. Having joined the Massachusetts National Guard at 17, Rod decided to work for the Guard full-time after his work in the private sector. During his tenure with the Guard, Rod worked his way from Private to Lt. Colonel, which was the rank he retired from, after 43 years, in 1994.

During his years with the Guard, his concentration was the field of equal employment opportunity. Rod was one of the first M.C.'s for Black History Month in the 1960's, and created the first Women In The Military Conference in the early 1980's, among some of his achievements. When Rod retired, he was an Equal Employment Opportunity compliance officer for the state. A little known fact: Rod was one of the state's senior ranking officials for the first couple of days during the Blizzard of '78, coordinating emergency activities from a land-line phone in the kitchen! 

Rod was predeceased by his son Mark, daughter Ann, brother Ken, sisters Arlene, Anna, and Marilyn, as well as his parents Alice and Kenneth. 

A private ceremony was held by the family.