Rochester New Hampshire -Rod Follum lived loving people.   His mother always said that he was the kindest and most loving little boy around.   He had stories, lots of stories and if you were lucky enough to hear them, you were kept laughing and in awe of his adventures.   Born in Boston, MA on April 6, 1947, he is predeceased by his parents, Hugo and Rita Follum.   He grew up in Hingham, MA where he enjoyed the Cape, sleeping on the boat that he made with his father, his boy scout troop adventures, being the horse for his sister Martha and causing innocent mischief.   He went to Leicester Jr. College where he and his best friend John made the kind of memories that only seem to be found in the fiction books.  And while there he went on a blind date, fell in love and immediately proposed to his wife, Faith.  He loved her completely for 52 years of marriage.   He earned a business degree at the University of Bridgeport and almost immediately started his career with Curtis 1000.   In 1974, with his young family in tow, he moved to Rochester, NH and started the NH Division of Curtis 1000. Rising to Regional Division Manager, he stayed there for his entire career.   His coworkers became family and he so enjoyed watching them grow and celebrating their lives with them.   Rod lived loving people.

Rod set the bar for being a husband and father.  He and his wife created their family, home and gardens with a sense of love and togetherness, with a dog always at their feet and an array of birds in the feeder.   He seized every opportunity to float her across a dance floor or just hold her hand.  They made a lifetime of memories at their Rangeley, Maine summer home.  A perennial jokester, a faithful protector and a chaser of nighttime monsters, he made lunchtime dates with his wife a priority and was constantly spinning his household of girls around the kitchen dance floor.  The house was filled with goofy singing that made every job go faster and every road trip an endless camp song. He always found joy in his family.   He was the first loves of both of his daughters, Beth Follum Hoffman and Rebecca Schenk and cherished that they grew up to be his best friends.   And he spent their childhood teaching them silliness, fractured fairy tales, playing poker with M&Ms, how to spot a moose, to walk in the woods, not settle on the wrong boy, enjoy the ocean, solve problems, how to talk in public, never miss an opportunity to sing the oldies, and how to make the best loon call.  He taught them how to love and above all else he taught them to treat all people with love and respect.

Rod was filled with gratitude for his son in laws.  Mark Hoffman became his dear friend, always there to lend a hand, an ear or a concert ticket.  He was the son that Rod didn't have.   Hank Schenk brought him adventure and pride. Skeet shooting or fishing, they could easily adventure together.  He considered both his sons to be the most competent and intelligent men that he knew.

He taught all of his five beloved grandchildren that a grandfather can also be an amazing sidekick and best friend.   Known to have beers and sleepovers with his adult grandson, Gabriel Follum Hoffman, he fantasized about motorcycle rides andloved to sing to Gabe's guitar playing well into the night.   An avid supporter of his oldest granddaughter, Lydia Follum Hoffman, he admired her in the theater, loved that she always sided with him in the cookie decorating contests and knew that they were connected in unspoken ways. Their hide and seek games were legend.  He was an adventurer with the next two grandsons, Henry and Benjamin Schenk.  He was willing to try to match their speed, taught them how to go-cart, deep sea fish, eat the World's Best Hot Dog, share strawberry shortcake and play imaginary baseball.   And his youngest granddaughter Amelia Schenk, twinkled when she saw him.  He would sing her to sleep 600 miles apart and in turn she spent endless summers stealing his food and keeping him company.

Rod is survived by his wife Faith Follum, his two daughters and son in laws Beth Follum Hoffman and Mark Hoffman and Rebecca Schenk and Henry Schenk, his five grandchildren; Gabriel Follum Hoffman, Lydia Follum Hoffman, Henry Schenk, Benjamin Schenk and Amelia Schenk.   He is also survived his sister and brother in law, Martha and Dick Knowlton and his nephew Ridr Knowlton and niece Bryn Neal.  Additionally, he is survived by good friends, Jeffrey Pelkey and Janet Andrews. He would want all of them to carry on his legacy of love, hope and courage.

Rod lived loving people.  He loved making people feel important.  He loved taking care of others and never missed an opportunity to be thankful for the joys in life.   A recipient of a heart transplant, he honored his new heart with gratitude for every day that he lived and was so grateful for all those who helped him live.  On April 29, 2020, he was surrounded virtually by his friends, family and his cardiologist at Mass General Hospital during a peaceful goodbye.  His greatest joy was making others smile and in turn that was his greatest gift.

He lived!

If you would like to honor his life please live yours to the fullest. Sing a song, share a hot dog, love one another.  If you would like to make a donation in his memory choose a place or causethat is important to you or make a gift to The First Congregational Church of Eliot, ME (eliotucc.org)  where he loved to sing and celebrate.