Help Rodney Hardison With Medical & Final Support

A beloved member of the Newburgh community for decades, many of you know Rodney (Rodni) Hardison as a fixture at the Wherehouse, always with a book and a wisecrack close at hand.

Everyone who crosses paths with him learns quickly that Rodney is a storyteller — sharply observant, funny and poignant — sometimes all at the same time. We are humbly asking those who have been fortunate enough to enjoy his company and his camaraderie for donations so that we may observe his wishes as he reaches his final chapter.

A U.S. military veteran, Sergeant Rodney (retired) served as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, beginning in 1964, and was honorably discharged after being wounded in 1967, an injury for which he received a Purple Heart medal.

A creator as well as a connoisseur of art in many forms, Rodney’s journey from his hometown of Brooklyn to Newburgh took him from creating film sets in Hollywood to wrangling horses as a ranch hand in Arizona. In New York, his empathetic nature led him to advocate for homeless and other disadvantaged individuals in Orange County.

Rodney is currently in hospice care at the Montgomery Nursing Home in Montgomery, N.Y., and desires his final resting place to be the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Goshen, N.Y. If you count yourself among those lucky enough to know Rodney, please consider donating — no amount is too small. Your contributions will help defray the necessary medical and funerary expenses that will ultimately be incurred so that he can have comfort and dignity in his last days, and so we can honor his life, achievements and service to his country according to his wishes.

It would mean a lot to us as well as Rodney if you could also share this GoFundMe link on your Facebook or other social media pages, in order to help us reach our goal.

Sincerely, Friends of Rodney Hardison