Martin H. Rodney

Dr. Martin H. Rodney died Monday, October 27, 2008 at Anne Arundel Medical Center. He was 99 years old. Dr. Martin H. Rodney was born in the Republic of Panama on March 4, 1909 from West Indian parents. He went to elementary school in the city of Colon, Panama and to high school on the Island of Jamaica, West Indies. He came to the United States via a cargo ship on May 2, 1930 and was assigned to Ellis Island as were all immigrants at the time. On July 12, 1930 he was allowed to leave Ellis Island and enter the United States on a student visa. Graduating from Dewitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, New York, he completed pre-dental education at Howard University in 1934 and went on to graduate from Meharry Medical College-DDS in Nashville, Tennessee with honors. He continued his education from 1938 to 1939 at Gaggenheim Dental Clinic in New York, receiving a fellowship in Pedodontics. In 1941 he married Olga Hart and from 1951 to 1953 he attended Howard University for oral surgery, radiograph interpretation. He continued his education at the University of Maryland mastering implant dentistry and root canal therapy. In 1960 he attended Einstein University studying Anesthesiology. He received a certificate of training from Walter Reed Army Medical Center for oral diagnosis and therapeutics and oral surgery. He attended seminars in London, England to study the British socialized dental system. Dr. Rodney began his career in dentistry for the first five years in Panama and then he would return to Baltimore where he practiced until he retired to Chester. His professional recognitions were as follows: Meharry National Alumni Association in 1993, President’s Award, Meharry Medical College in 1987, Who’s Who Among Black Americans in 1980, Maryland Dental Society Award for One of the Black Pioneers in Dentistry in the State of Maryland and “Outstanding Clinician and Relentless Contributions and Devotion to his Profession and the Health of his Community”, Citation from the Governor of the State of Maryland for “Outstanding Service to the Citizens of the State” and in 1975, Gerald Steinberg Award in 1973, Fellow-Academy of General Dentistry Award in 1971, Certificate of Appreciation for Valuable Contribution to Scientific Sessions for Advancing the Science of Dentistry in 1970, election to Omicron Kappa Upsilon, National Dental Honor Society in 1953, and Louise Charlotte Ball Award in 1938. He was also the past president of the Maryland Dental Society, Senior Staff Member at the Provident Hospital in Baltimore, past president of the Queen Anne’s County Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons, life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, member of the Chi Delta Mu fraternity, and member of the Commission on Aging in Queen Anne’s County. He was the author of My Journey to Success, a motivational book for the entire family. He is survived by his guardians Roy and Christa Rafter and family of Chester, MD and was predeceased by his beloved wife Olga Hart Rodney on October 15, 1993. Family and friends may call on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 from 6 to 8 pm at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, 106 Shamrock Road, Chester, MD. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 11 am at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, Chester, MD. Interment will follow at Arbutus Memorial Park.

Martin H. Rodney

March 4, 1909 - October 27, 2008