Rhoderick "Rod" Elin

Rod Elin was received into the arms of God’s grace Friday, January 12, 2024. Born December 14, 1934, in Cambridge, MN, to Carl and Signa Elin, Rod was the fourth of five children. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Bob (Hazel d.) and Rick (Pots d.), and sisters Letty (Van d.) and Betty (Artie d.). Rod is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Andrea (n. Withrow), sons Marc (Diane), Steven (LeAnn d.), Darren (Sarah); grandchildren Sean, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Levi (Laci), and Kati (Chris); nephews, nieces, and friends.

Rod spent the first six years of his life in Cambridge, MN, where the family owned a grocery store. In the midst of the Great Depression, the family relocated to Stockton, California. Except for his brief service in the US Army during the Korean War, Stockton would be his home for almost 50 years. Rod entered the University of the Pacific on the GI College Bill and, to his surprise, on a scholarship for drama. It was in College Summer Theatre that in 1960 Rod met the love of his life, Andrea Withrow. The two were married that fall. A year later, their firstborn son, Marc, was born. After college, Rod found his way into teaching. Steven was born shortly after. In his teaching career, Rod was a local pioneer in what would become special education. Rod’s work with special needs children led him to pursue psychology and counseling, as well as graduate degrees, culminating in his PhD. Darren joined the family just as Rod and his partner Dr. Ezane Crumb formed The Learning & Counseling Center in Stockton, which even included a specialized private school for several years. Over the years, Rod’s work led to several special projects, including textbooks. If there was a single word that seemed to be a focus for Rod it is “people.” Discovering his connection to people through acting, teaching, counseling and mentoring, Rod had a natural curiosity and interest in/for people that shaped his whole journey, both professionally as well as personally.

Rod’s love of people extended naturally to his family and personal life. Rod clearly worked at simply being Rod / Dad when it came to home, family, and friends. Rod honored and devoted himself to occasions of friends and family, whether it was family dinners, or weekly events such as Rotary and friends. These were not obligations but sources of pride to share and learn about people. To his family, Rod was the person who never met a stranger and had a quality of listening that attracted many to him. With a busy growing family, family dinners at favorite restaurants, extended family celebrations, many gatherings, and vacations formed adventures that have been the subject of the family’s favorite memories.

For Rod and Andrea, these years marked a special discovery that changed their relationship almost entirely: Marriage Encounter. What began as a “professional curiosity” led to a new way of relating, complimenting, and learning to love more deeply. As with many things, Rod’s discovery quickly moved into something the two would share with/for other couples. Rod and Andrea’s involvement with the ecumenical Nationwide Marriage Encounter spanned the next thirty years, followed them from California to Washington, and even eventually led them to share their experience and skills with incarcerated couples, bringing Marriage Encounter to McNeil Island Prison for six years.

It was in 1989 that, with their youngest son, Darren, now in college, Rod and Andrea decided that, as empty nesters, life was calling them beyond Stockton. After several exploratory trips up the west coast, the two drove into Bellingham one rainy day, following Chuckanut Drive and greeted by Fairhaven and Bellingham Bay. “This is it,” they immediately agreed. The plan was to semi-retire in the Pacific Northwest, and perhaps find a small job for each of them. With roughly 20 years in private practice and wanting to now “give back,” Rod answered an ad for a position with Catholic Community Services as a therapist. What he quickly found was a whole new career, one in which his passions met the world’s needs – a true sense of vocation, and thus a part-time position became a career that he loved and that lasted 29 years! If you asked, Rod would say that, without a doubt, his years with Catholic Community Services were the most meaningful part of his professional life. Working with other civic, health-based, and spiritual services in the northwest region of the state gave way to special projects that spanned mental health, recovery services, Hope House, affordable housing, and support services. It seemed that each new project brought ever new excitement as well as meaningful connections. His other community outreach activities included Rotary and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bellingham, where Rod became involved with Cursillo, Alms Ministry, and even served as their Sr. Warden for a term with their Vestry. Rod’s connections also brought friendships that became deep and valued through the years.

After he finally and reluctantly officially “retired” in his eighties, Rod and Andrea treasured opportunities to travel, visit friends and family and enjoy their beloved second home state. Unfortunately, at 87, Rod’s health suffered a series of setbacks, culminating in palliative care and then hospice this past fall. The pandemic and his diminishing health seemed to keep robbing him of his simplest and best treasure: people. In these past two years, it has been his own family that have tried to share with him the world and people he loved so much and provide a taste of the many blessings he worked hard to provide to them and so many others.

A Celebration of Life for Rod will be held on Friday, May 24, 2024 at 4:00pm at Westford Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be offered in thanksgiving for Rod to the Alms Ministry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church ( https://www.stpaulsbellingham.org/ ), Hope House in Bellingham ( https://www.assumption.org/hope-house.html ), or Whatcom Hospice Foundation ( https://whatcomhospice.org/donate/ ).