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Norman Roderick, longtime Chemical and Nuclear Engineering professor, dies

April 9, 2015

Norman Frederick Roderick, born October 24, 1940, died April 6, 2015, of natural causes.

Norman was born in McKeesport, Pa., in 1940. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and received his master’s and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan. He worked at the rocket test track at Holloman AFB, was a faculty member of the Department of Aeronautics at the U.S. Air Force Academy and was a faculty member of the Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering at the University of New Mexico for more than 30 years.

He was a senior member of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), a member of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), a member of the American Physical Society (APS), and a fellow of IEEE. He had a long, successful career in research and consulting in the Air Force, UNM, Los Alamos National Laboratory and at Numberex, specializing in high-density plasma physics. He was blessed with a great life, family, friends and career.

Norm led the nuclear engineering program and UNM through a difficult time during the 1980s and 1990s and also served as interim chair of the chemical and nuclear engineering department several times. He was known as a consummate professional and a respected and dedicated faculty member who was much loved by students, and an outstanding teacher, researcher, and mentor. He also had a wonderful sense of humor. He will be greatly missed but fondly remembered.

He is survived by his wife, Judith; his daughter, Heather Ginn, and her husband, Eric; a grandson, Zachary; a son, Kevin; a grandson, Vaclav; his sisters-in-law, Diane Martin and family, and Sandra Klink and family, and his cousin Arlene Sidiqqi and family.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to the University of New Mexico “Excellence in Nuclear Engineering” scholarship fund. Checks should be made payable to the UNM Foundation and on the memo line include “Excellence in Nuclear Engineering” in memory of Norman Roderick.

Please send checks to:
The University of New Mexico
School of Engineering Dean's Office
Attn: Betty Karlsson
Albuquerque, NM 87131

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