Rodger Alspach - Obituary

odger Lee Alspach Rodger Lee Alspach, 89, of Annapolis, Maryland, died peacefully, surrounded by his immediate family, in Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Inpatient Hospice on November 2, 2014, from heart failure. Born in 1925 to Gordon H. and Grace Gamble Alspach in Van Wert, Ohio, Dr. Alspach graduated from Miami University of Ohio and Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. Following a medical internship at Cook County Hospital, he entered the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, where he served for 24 years, completing a surgical residency in Corpus Christi, Texas; a radiology residency in Philadelphia; serving as general medical officer in Oceana, Virginia and Adak, Alaska; as Medical Advisor to the Republic of Korea Navy in Chinhae and Seoul; and as Chief of Radiology aboard the hospital ship, USS Repose (AH-16) offshore the Republic of Vietnam; at Naval Hospital, Boston; and at Naval Hospital, Annapolis. CAPT Alspach also served as Chief of Professional Services, Executive Officer, and as the final Commanding Officer, Naval Hospital, Boston in Chelsea, MA. Following his Navy retirement, Dr. Alspach continued his radiology practice in Crofton, built computers by hand, created medical office billing software and traveled to great adventures around the world. Never known to act his age, Rodger celebrated his 80th birthday by completing his third tandem skydive out of a perfectly good airplane. He is survived by his wife, JoAnn “Grif” Alspach, of Annapolis; daughters Jennifer Alspach (Andre Dique) of London, UK; Holly Cici of Dayton, TX; and Darien Tully of Aston, PA; 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren and was predeceased by his parents and brothers, David and John. A visitation will be held at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd, Edgewater, MD 21037 on Thursday, November 6, 2014 from 11am until a funeral service begins at 12pm. A reception will be held immediately following service. Burial with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army or Faces of Valor USA.