Frederick Hodge - Obituary

rederick A. Hodge, PhD Captain, USN Retired Dr. Fred Hodge, USN Retired, departed this world and set sail on his next journey on December 13, 2016, due to complications of COPD. He was 77. Fred was born in Durango, Colorado January 10, 1939, and was the youngest son of Charles A. and Ruth Johnson Hodge. He graduated from South Denver High School in 1957 and enlisted in the Naval Reserves while attending Colorado State University until 1961 when he was called to active duty due to the Berlin Crisis. Fred spent time on Midway Island with an Airborne Early Warning Barrier Squadron, and also on the aircraft carrier, The USS Midway with Heavy Attack Squadron Eight. After an honorable discharge in 1963 as a Third Class Petty Officer, he returned to Colorado State University to complete his BS in Zoology in 1964, his MS in Cell Biology/Microbiology in 1965, then rejoined the Navy as a commissioned officer in the Medical Services Corps. The Navy sent him to Oregon State University to continue his graduate studies, and he earned his Ph.D. in Radiation Biology in June 1971. His biomedical research took him from duty at the Naval Radiological Defense and Biological Labs in California to Southeast Asia, including a four-year tour at Naval Medical Research Unit 2 in Taipei, Taiwan with additional duties in the Philippine Islands, Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. After returning to the States, he transferred from the Navy to the Commissioned Corps of the US Public Health Service and was stationed at the EPA Headquarters, Office of Radiation Programs as Acting Branch Chief for 15 years. During his tenure, Fred participated in EPA's response to the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island nuclear accidents. As one of the of the radiobiologists in the Bioeffects Analysis Branch, he was responsible for providing the health effects and associated risks input for virtually all federal regulatory background information. In 1991 with the rank of Captain, Fred retired after 30 years of USN/USPHS service. After a brief consulting role with Energetics, Inc., an energy and environmental consulting firm in Columbia, MD, he then focused on the role of owner/operator with his wife Linda Martin-Hodge on their horse farm, Willow Glen Farm in Davidsonville MD. It is here that Fred always commented that he received an addition to his first doctorate, a Ph.D. in Scatology, and Post Hole Diggin'. Fred enjoyed being on the farm and always had a fondness for dogs. He was loved by all and enjoyed conversations about almost anything. His affiliations include American Legion, VFW (life member), Commissioned Officers Association of the USPHS, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Radiation Research Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Sigma Xi, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, The Retired Officers Association, and Free Masons/Shriners where he performed in "whiteface" as "Yo-Yo" a Shrine clown doing Yo-Yo tricks. Other hobbies included old classic cars, golf, fishing, hunting, raising Dalmatians and show horses. Fred is survived by his wife of 31 years, Linda; his daughter and son-in-law, Heather and John Aleknavage of Woodbridge, VA; his daughter and son-in-law, Holly and Nick Allen of San Diego, CA; his son and partner, Heath Hodge and Tom Blanchard of San Francisco, CA; his stepson and wife, Jason and Gretchen Martin of Fallbrook, CA; his four grandchildren, Jeb, Jake, Tara and Calvin; his sister, Nancy Ann Triplett of Fort Collins, CO; and beloved sidekick Kaleen Friends are invited to celebrate Fred's life with his family from 12 pm until his memorial service begins at 1 pm on Monday, December 19 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD. Burial will take place at a later date. Online condolences and tributes may be made by using the link on this page.