Folks in the city Don Roderick once led remember him for the way he cared about Westover and its people, and for his efforts to get a new city building built. Roderick, a former mayor who spent 15 years on the Monongalia General Hospital Board, died Thursday, May 6, 1999, at home, after a heart attack. He was 67. 'I've known him for a number of years,' said current Mayor Joe Bartolo, a former Monongalia County sheriff who knew him when Roderick was working for the state Tax Department. 'I was just out with him. We went out this week and we were working on the roads. He cared about people in the city of Westover.' Joe Janco, also a former mayor, said that although he and Roderick 'never mingled,' 'I have to give him a lot of credit for organizing the original committee for the Westover city building.' Sheila Landis, another former mayor who served on City Council when Roderick was mayor, said that's what she remembers him for, too. 'It wasn't completed, but it was done and we were able to move in June 7, 1992,' Landis said. Roderick participated in church activities at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church, where he was a member. Council member Mike Kelly, a member of the same church, said, 'I just knew him from living in Westover and being mayor. He always was a good guy. Any time you needed help in any project, he was gung-ho, ready to go.' Kelly said they went to different Masses (Roderick attended on Saturday evenings), but 'he was always there to help' at church projects. Roderick was born June 21, 1931, at Rubles Mill, Pa., son of the late Glenn and Alma King Roderick. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary J. Donnelly Roderick; a daughter and spouse, Carol R. and Val Laub, of Uniontown, Pa.; two grandsons, Craig and Vaughn Roderick Laub, both of Uniontown; three brothers, Glenn Roderick and Irvin Roderick, both of Smithfield, Pa., and Jack Roderick, of Cleveland; and four sisters, Blanche Wilson, Rachel Neverdale, Lemoine Cooley and Annette Pavlick, all of Smithfield. Friends may call at Fred L. Jenkins Funeral Home from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Friday. Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 8, with the Rev. Colombo Bandiera as celebrant. Burial will be in Lawnwood Cemetery.

Contributor: Anna (47477171)