Theodore Rodman, 88, physician, Temple professor
Dr. Theodore Rodman didn't happen upon his patients only in the medical school and hospital at Temple University. "Once in a while," his former administrative assistant Kathy Clark Kelley said, "he liked to go around the corner from the hospital" for a roast beef sandwich.
Dr. Theodore Rodman didn't happen upon his patients only in the medical school and hospital at Temple University.
"Once in a while," his former administrative assistant Kathy Clark Kelley said, "he liked to go around the corner from the hospital" for a roast beef sandwich.
"More than once, he brought back a sickly guy," she said, "probably a ditch digger or construction worker."
The guy was "maybe wheezing, maybe coughing," and Dr. Rodman "provided him with the care that he needed, free of charge, no chart, no questions asked."
"I don't even think he knew their names."
On Monday, July 11, Dr. Rodman, 88, of Audubon, Pa., a former professor of medicine at Temple University, died of complications from heart disease at Einstein Medical Center in East Norriton.
During their time together at Temple Medical School and Hospital, from 1974 to 1985, Kelley said, Dr. Rodman did not seem to have idle moments.
Not only was he the chairman of the pulmonary disease section, she said, he was at the same time the director of both the respiratory intensive care unit and the pulmonary function laboratory.
After he retired from Temple in 1985 and began a private practice near Ninth and Spruce Streets, Kelley said, she was his pulmonary function technician until he retired in 1999.
In the 25 years that she worked with him, Kelley said, "he had no problem making house calls on his way home, free of charge, to check up on someone who he was worried about and could not get to the office."
Born in Atlantic City, Dr. Rodman graduated from Atlantic City High School in 1946 and earned a bachelor's in English literature at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., in 1950.
He served as an Army clerk and retired from the Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel, a son, David, said.
After earning his medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1954, he served his residency at the former Philadelphia General Hospital.
Dr. Rodman began his career in the late 1950s, his son said, as a staff physician for the respiratory and intensive care units at what is now the Philadelphia VA Medical Center in West Philadelphia.
From 1962 to 1966, Dr. Rodman was at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, dealing with heart and lung problems, his son said.
In 1966, David said, Dr. Rodman began his career as professor of medicine at Temple University.
In the 1970s, Kelley said, "the medical students at Temple voted him the Golden Apple Award, for being their best teacher."
At Temple, she said, "it was not uncommon for him to hold tutoring sessions at the end of the day, to help struggling medical students."
And that happened, she said, "over the years, after a long day working in the intensive care unit."
Besides his patient care, his son said, Dr. Rodman wrote three textbooks on pulmonary care for physicians and critical-care nurses.
Dr. Rodman was a medical examiner for the American Board of Internal Medicine, his son said, and a senior leader for the American College of Chest Physicians.
Besides his son David, Dr. Rodman is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ruth, sons Mitchell and Kevin, a brother, nine grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
A memorial service was Wednesday, July 13. His ashes were buried in Atlantic City the day before.
Donations may be sent to Main Line Reform Temple Charities, 410 Montgomery Ave., Wynnewood, Pa. 19096.
Condolences may be offered to the family at goldsteinsfuneral.com.
610-313-8134 @WNaedele
