Have only just heard about Michael's death. I will forever be grateful for his supervision when I was a student at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ in the late 1960s.  I recall him as a kind, gentle and supportive man who gave me the opportunity to co-publish with him his early research into temporary threshold shift. 
Glenn Wilson PhD, London


Though it is a long time ago that Mike passed on I still have vivid memories of the wisdom,kindness,compassion and devotion to all those with hearing challenges and their famillies he regularily bestowed on the world around him.You are so missed by all who knew you! Lynnette Dodd

May I express my deep condolences to Dr.Rodda's family. I am honored to have met Dr.M.Rodda during some of his visits to Ukraine, and we were really impressed with Dr.Rodda's wise and analytical attitudes. I know how much he has done for deaf people in Canada and Ukraine to help them find their happiness in life. Thank you, Dr.Rodda.

My heart goes out to your family during this difficult loss.

I knew Dr. Rodda to be an instructor of great passion and compassion.  His was the very first class I had the privilege of CARTing, and it was very engaging.
Over the years since then, it was evident that he was always involved in people's lives, not just their "issues", and held a place of affection in their hearts.  The outward organizational names, titles, and accolades seemed insignificant to Dr. Rodda -- it was always the people that mattered.
Nowhere was this more obvious than at his retirement celebration, which of course attracted friends from around the world.
His was a rich contribution that we all will continue to enjoy for years to come.
Louella Webber
CART Provider

I did not have the opportunity to get to know Mike well as I am a relatively new member of the Knights of Columbus.  I want you to know he was extremely loved and thought of highly by his KC brothers as a gentle soul and caring man. May God be with you all and my deepest sympathy.
Harvey Clark

It is with deep sadness that I learned of Michael's passing.  He was a wonderful caring and compassionate man, a friend and mentor who will be sorely missed. My heartfelt condolences to you and the family.

Our depest sympathy from all the staff of Living Sounds Hearing Centre.
Greg Nedelec and Tim Goshulak

The Board of Directors join me in extending our sincere sympathy at the passing of Dr. Rodda. We especially appreciated all he did for helping people in the deaf community. We know he will be greatly missed by all who knew and worked with him. Our sincere condolences to the family.

Iris M. Saunders
Executive Director, EmployAbilities

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

Dr. Rodda made a tremendous contribution to education for the Deaf and for persons who are hard of hearing. His wisdom and his warmth will be greatly missed. My sincere condolences to his family.

Connie - My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family on the passing of Dr. Rodda.  

When Dr. Rodda was at the U of A I looked after his secretarial needs for the courses he taught.  Dr. Rodda was a kind, gentle and caring man who was a fantastic mentor to his graduate students.

May he rest in peace.

Loretta Moore

My deepest sympathy to all of Michael's family members. Michael was a kind and generous mentor, and a great colleague during our days together at the University of Alberta. 
May all the warmest memories of his life with you sustain you in your grief.

 Hi Connie - i am so sorry to see and read of Michael's passing -  he was a very remarkable man and so much a gentle soul- i really enjoyed being of service to him  and to your family at best choice auto- i will miss the times i got to spend with him - My deepest sympathies to you and your family .

Dear Michael!
we will never forget you!
members of the Canada-Ukraine Alliance for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons

Please, accept my heartfelt condolences on Dr. Rodda's passing. 

His kindness and wisdom was greatly appreciated and I will cherish his lessons on humility and perseverance. 

Because of his belief in me, I have been able to do more and be more than I could have ever imagined. 

May his love forever shine in your hearts.
Deena Martin

Dear Connie and family, 

I was deeply saddened at the news of Michael's passing. He was a tremendous teacher, mentor and friend to me throughout the years. I am very grateful to have known him. I pray that the love of family and friends and the comfort of good memories will bring you solace at what must be a very difficult time. 

Sincerely,  Susannah Horgan

My deepest sympathy to all family members.  I first met Michael when I was a Eucharistic Minister at Gray Nuns Hospital.  Also, I'm in the same church choir as he was in.  He was a fine gentleman.  May he rest in peace.

Dearest Connie, Philip, Yan, and Steve,

My friendship with Michael, your husband and father, began in 1991 when I needed career guidance. From that first meeting, he encouraged me to pursue graduate and post-graduate studies. He was the first person to believe in my academic abilities. Under his supervision and with his excellent tutelage, I completed a Masters Degree in Deafness Studies, a PhD in Educational Psychology, and became a psychologist, specializing in hearing loss. He was my mentor, my supervisor, and my friend. He was instrumental in involving me in activities not normally available to graduate students.

I cherish the memories of our working travels across Canada and getting lost in so many of those places. We were compared to the old guys in the balcony on the Muppets.  

It was an honour to be the official photographer at your wedding 16 years ago, and then to be a godmother to your son, Philip. Watching Yan grow into such a wonderful young woman has been a privilege.

A humble man, Michael was always first and foremost, a coal miner's son. He never tooted his own horn, despite his many, many accomplishments and contributions to making this world a better place.

Heaven received another angel on Friday, July 27, 2012. May he rest in peace now and be pain free. My tears are for me and for your loss. However, in your grief and as you carry on, please know that Michael was an amazing man and he left footprints on my heart. <3

Our deepest and most sincere condolences to you Connie and family. Mike is a very kind, humble, generous and sincere person especially in his works of charity in the Knights of Columbus, St Peter's Council #7070. His is always there cheerful, patient and ever ready to assist in whatever he could do. Whenever I had a need for reader in the KC Masses you would always volunteer, even if it was a last minute request. Brother Mike we will always remember you in our prayers. You will always be the best Sir Brother Knight. Eternal rest  grant unto you, Sir Brother Mike. Let perpetual light shine unto you. Rest in peace with the Lord our God.
Bro. Gerard & Lucia Yee

Please, accept my condolences on the loss of your father and husband Michael Rodda. I am very appreciated to Michael for his friendship and help.  
Dr Oleksandr Savchenko, Ukraine.

We are deeply saddened to hear of Michael's passing and hold you all in our hearts and prayers. Michael will be so greatly missed.

Dear Connie and children, 

Please accept my sincere condolences for the tragic loss of your husband, father, and my dearest teacher and friend Michael last week. I can only imagine what a shock it must be to you and children that after amazing recovery from that awful accident Michael passed away. 

As you know, Michael and I go back almost 15 years both as friends and partners in special education projects. Not only was he a great person to work with, he was also an excellent teacher and a perfect strategic organizer: he predicted long ago the way Ukrainian deaf education would develop. I would always be grateful to Michael for making me what I am now: thanks to Michael's belief in me and his support I could make my master and doctoral degrees at the University of Alberta and become a professor.

Indeed, it was only two years ago that Michael and I shared a condo during the Canada-Ukraine Alliance Summer 2010 Institute at the Ukrainian Society of the Deaf Recreation Centre on the Black Sea, Ukraine. From my second floor I could often watch Michael sitting on his first floor terrace and enjoying reading a book. His family picture was always in that book. Another episode from his Ukrainian visit in 2010 was our exciting trip to the boarding school for deaf children in Khust in the Carpathian Mountains. He was so fascinated by the beautiful nature and people who were receiving us! We were planning to invite him to participate in the Summer Institute 2012…

Dear Connie, I hope that your wonderful memories of him will bring you comfort and peace at this difficult time. I and my family are thinking of you and praying for you every day.

Ihor Kobel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Ukrainian Catholic University

Our thoughts and sympathies are with you and your family in this stressful time.
Gloria & Wally

OBITUARY

Michael Rodda

December 6, 1937 – July 27, 2012

Hainstock's Funeral Home & Crematorium

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