We lost Roderick tragically and unexpectedly on 05/10/2026. Roderick is survived by his loving partner Edward, parents, countless friends, and loved ones. Edward is being well taken care of and surrounded by friends who are assisting him with logistics and covering any of his immediate needs.

We are tentatively planning this “Celebration of Life” for the summer in Philly. Once Edward is settled and in a stable place, Allie, Vicki, Abbie, and Brett will be doing the coordinated effort to plan this celebration.

Roderick’s deeply empathetic, kind soul believed in the strength of community. While the intent is for an upbeat celebration, we plan to be intentional in holding space for collective grief as a community.

In lieu of flowers, any contributions towards this effort are greatly appreciated. If you would like to additionally support Edward in the immediate, his Venmo is @edward-melvin-1.

We also plan to identify a local charity, mutual aid fund, or non-profit that we believe would best align with Roderick’s values. We would like to center this event as a fundraiser in honor of Roderick.

We understand that Roderick has many loved ones who are eager to assist. We appreciate everyone reaching out and will follow up as more responsibilities arise.

If you would like to offer assistance by way of planning, labor, or creative activities, please reach out to Brett and Abbie respectively.

*This is an evolving effort; we will provide updates as we move through the planning phase.*

*We will be keeping track of all accounting and expenses for the purpose of transparency.*