John Rodosevich Obituary

Goodbye to a Leader and a Friend

Our club, the Insulin Pumpers Support Group, is here  today—for us—because  John Rodosevich led the way. Thanks, John, for all you did. We’ll do our best to carry on…

John Rodosevich, 69 years old, was a father, husband, retired mechanical engineer and generous-spirited supporter of people with diabetes on insulin pumps. He died September 5 in hospital surrounded by his family.

John was born in Colorado and grew up in Wyoming where for 12 years he attended St. Stephens School on an Indian reservation. He was the oldest of six children; his father was a printer and his mother a teacher.

He attended Seattle University and retired from the South Bay Power Plant five years ago. He also worked for Dynergy, on the Exxon Valdez cleanup, and on soil reclamation projects in Newfoundland.

John developed Type 1 diabetes at age 18 and in 1982 became one of the first people to wear an insulin pump. He quickly organized The San Diego Insulin Pumpers support group in 1983, which he ran for almost 30 years. At the monthly meetings, he brought in speakers from medicine and industry to teach pumpers and their loved ones about diabetes and the technology that supported them, as well as providing a comfortable environment for sharing experiences with diabetes. He also researched and wrote a lively monthly newsletter that he sent to his extensive mailing list of pump wearers and health care providers.

John also provided care, assistance, and support in clean-ups and housing repair for flood disaster victims throughout the country. He supported and judged high school science and robotics competitions in San Diego. He loved gardening, flowers, music, dancing, and kite flying.

John is survived by his wife Maricela; three children, Angela, Peter, and Eileen; five grandchildren; a nephew and wife, Rickie and Kathleen Soto and their three children. In addition, survivors are his five siblings, Jim, Mary Rose, Iris, Carol, and Anna.

His memorial service will be held October 1 at 11:00 at St. Martins of Tours Church, 7710 El Cajon Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942.