Friends and family are invited to celebrate Jack's life at the United Presbyterian Church, 12 S. Prince Street, Shippensburg, PA at 11 AM on Saturday, July 21, 2018. 

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University community is saddened to learn of the July 14 death of former coach and faculty member John M. "Jack" Roddick '47. Known by many in his later years as "Papa Jack," Roddick was 97 years old.
 
Shippensburg extends its sincerest condolences to his family, friends and to the countless individuals he has mentored and influenced in his more than 70 years associated with the university.
 
Roddick began his time at Shippensburg as a student in the early 1940s. After an extended tour of military duty in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Roddick returned to finish his degree in 1947. An agreement was reached that ended his student-teaching commitment in December in order for Roddick to become a chemistry and physics teacher at Swatara Township High School, where he served for eight years. His role with the school also involved being the head coach of football and track & field.
 
In 1954, Roddick was hired by Shippensburg State College President Harry L. Kriner to be an assistant professor in the science department. Roddick was a long-standing, distinguished faculty member who specialized in astronomy and physics. He was elevated to associate professor in 1978, and retired from teaching in 1989 after 45 years of service to the university.  
 
Always one to share his love of the stars, Roddick was named the Director of the university's planetarium in 1971. For more than 50 years, Roddick organized group trips and public programs for the planetarium, including the university's popular Christmas show. In 2013, Shippensburg re-dedicated the planetarium as the Dibert-Roddick Planetarium to commemorate both Roddick and the original namesake, long-time physics chair Roy Dibert.
 
A staunch advocate for athletics, Roddick began serving as the head track & field coach upon his appointment to the faculty in 1954. He also began at that time as an assistant football coach to the legendary Vinton Rambo. One year later, Roddick was named Rambo's successor.  
 
Roddick served as the university's head football coach from 1955-63, compiling a record of 35-34-3. His 1957 team shared the Pennsylvania Conference title with a perfect 5-0 record in the league and posted an overall record of 6-0-1. In 1956 and 1959, Shippensburg posted 6-2 overall records.
 
In track & field, Roddick spent nearly 20 years as Shippensburg's head coach and brought the university much prominence – including the 1958 Pennsylvania Conference title and an undefeated stretch of 43 dual or triple meets. This school-record streak began during his debut season in 1954. Roddick stepped away from his coaching position in the mid-1970s to direct and further his focus toward the newly constructed university planetarium. 
 
In 2011, the university's annual High School Track & Field Invitational was re-named in Roddick's honor. His contributions to the meet, which is now in its 92nd year, have been full-circle. He began his involvement in the 1940s as a SU student-athlete working the high jump pit, and later brought his high school students from Swatara Township to the meet. Once he became Shippensburg's coach, Roddick made sure the meet ran smoothly. He continued to assist with the event well after his time as head coach had concluded.
 
For his countless contributions to Shippensburg University Athletics, Roddick was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame as an honorary member in 1990.
 
Perhaps Roddick's most enduring legacies to Shippensburg are his personable attitude and his ever-present attendance and volunteerism at university events. Whether it be a planetarium function, campus lecture or an athletic event, Roddick's visibility on the SU campus was impactful.
 
The football team was especially close to Roddick's heart. Immediately following his service as the head coach, Roddick became the official videographer for the team. Beginning with the next-to-last game of the 1954 season and lasting until the 1989 season finale (held in Portland, Oregon), Roddick never missed a football game – home or away. It was a streak of 317 consecutive games. Roddick continued to serve as the regular videographer into the mid-2000s. In total, between his work as a coach, a videographer, and as a fan in his final years, Roddick was in attendance for more than 500 Shippensburg football games in his lifetime.
 
In the local community, Shippensburg Township Park is home to Papa Jack's Disc Golf Course, a site constructed in 2010 and named after Roddick for his pioneering contributions to the sport. Roddick's first forays into Frisbee and disc golf date back to the 1950's. He was a seniors champion and was inducted into the Pennsylvania Disc Golf Hall of Fame – he currently maintains the over-80, over-85, over-90 and over-95 outdoor distance records for the official flying disc. Roddick's son, Dan, was inducted into the inaugural USA Ultimate Frisbee Hall of Fame Class in 2004.  
 
Surviving is his son Dan Roddick and wife, Janet, of Pasadena, California, as well as three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Jack's wife of 62 years, Arlene, preceded him in death in 2010.
 
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The SU Foundation, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257 for the Jack and Arlene Red Raider Football/Red Raider Track Scholarship or online at www.sufoundation.org. Donations may also be made to the Episcopal Home, 206 E. Burd Street, Shippensburg, PA 17257 or online at episcopalhome.com.

If you have a remembrance of Mr. Roddick that you would like to have included in this story, please submit through e-mail to sid@ship.edu. We will add it below when possible.