Obituary of Roderick J. MacLeod

Roderick John MacLeod, age 67, died peacefully at home on Sunday, January 28.  

Rod served his community with a wide range of professional abilities and civic contributions, always serving people and building relationships. Through his high school and college years and beyond, he worked as a meat cutter, serving and getting to know the clientele at Metzger’s Meat Market. Eventually convinced that was not his life calling, he enrolled in New York Law School, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1993. In his professional role he served as an attorney and later a partner with Gellert, Klein & MacLeod, LLP in Poughkeepsie. Along with the many individuals who sought out and relied personally and professionally on his counsel, he also ably provided legal counsel and advice to dozens of volunteer fire departments throughout Dutchess County and beyond.   

Music was a vital theme throughout his life. In high school he sang in the John Jay chorus and performed a vocal solo piece in the senior recital. Church choir participation was a constant throughout the years. He served for many years as a dedicated and musically creative church organist at New Hackensack Reformed Church.

He was interested in and committed to his community. He grew up at Immanuel Church in Myers Corners. Moving back to this community after college, he served there on the church council and taught Sunday School. In the wider community he volunteered with a wide range of local civic and charity interests including 19 years with Hudson River Housing Inc. 

Trains, whether spending time on his model train layout or collecting railroad memorabilia, were a lifelong passion and hobby, fueling his involvement in the transformation of the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge into what is now the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park and in the restoration of the Hopewell Junction and Hyde Park Depots. 

The New Hackensack Fire Department was his closest community. He would have joined the fire company when he was 14 but had to wait until 16, serving for 51 years and remaining a top responder, answering over 300 calls in 2023. His death, coming as it did, within hours of responding to a call is classified as a “Line of Duty Death”. At the time of his death, Rod was serving as the Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners for New Hackensack Fire District. 

He was proud of his Scottish ancestry and was very interested in and well-read on the history of Scotland and of the MacLeod clan. He and Karen spent many vacations exploring Scotland and developing relationships with family and friends from his paternal grandparents’ native Isles of Skye and Lewis, Scotland.  

He served and protected his community with dedication and kindness. Many benefited from his quietly offered personal and professional generosity. Known for his honest and realistic counsel, wry smile and unconventional sense of humor, Rod is missed by many who relied on him. 

Rod was predeceased by his parents, F. John and June MacLeod, and by his younger brother Kevin (Cindy) MacLeod. He is survived by his wife of nearly 47 years, Karen; and his daughter Kate (Manny) Valdivia and dearly loved grandchildren Mance, Roddy, Ruthanne, and Megan. He is also survived by his siblings Douglas (Cathy) MacLeod and Kathryn (Mark) Elliott, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation and Funeral arrangements:

Firefighters are invited to a visitation and memorial service to be held on Wednesday, April 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main Street in Wappingers Falls; a Fireman’s Service will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation Thursday, April 11 from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

A private funeral service will take place Friday, April 12 at 1 p.m. The service will be live-streamed: https://www.facebook.com/100064616232674/live_videos/

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Rod's name to Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, 253 Myers Corners Road, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 or Hudson River Housing, 313 Mill Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/hudson-river-housing