Rodney James Thomas

A well loved man has died. Rod Thomas, a kind, generous, and loving person, left this world with a smile on his face as he was surrounded by his wife, daughter, and granddaughter.

Rod was born in Ross, California to Kathleen and John Thomas. He told stories of growing up in Corte Madera at a time when there were lots of hills to explore before hopping on his bike to do his paper route. There were treks to Larkspur to take in a matinee at the Lark Theater for a quarter, and in later years, dancing under the stars at the Rose Bowl.

He attended LCM Grammar School, taught by at least one teacher who remembered his mother and uncles, then to Sir Francis Drake and Tamalpais High Schools, as well as College of Marin, and USF. He followed his dad into the Marine Corps, before a career with the State of California as a Parole Agent for over 40 years. In 1970, he moved to Santa Cruz County, living in Aptos, Bonny Doon and Santa Cruz.

In the third grade, Rod met the love of his life, Linda MacMillan, and they married in 1962. His death, from pneumonia, following two years of cancer, came eight days after their 62nd wedding anniversary. They had a full and adventurous life together with happy travels, starting with an amazing four months in a VW van winding through Europe, trips to the Amazon (his favorite) entranced by blue morphos, through Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway, and a joyful African safari with his granddaughter and three nephews. Some places he returned to so often they became a home away from home — like Camp Richardson, Lake Tahoe and Bonnieux in the south of France.

Nothing gave Rod more joy than his family. The most important day of his life was when his daughter, Laura, was born. When they were together, even his chemo appointments were filled with laughter. A devoted son, he saw his mother daily for her last several years. His nephews and granddaughter delighted in how “Wonderful Wodney” created play: taking them on roller coasters, sharing well-worn stories, endless gin rummy games, surprising them with a boogie board, a fishing rod, or blow-dart target practice.

Rod loved peanut butter, figuring things out, and the sea. He was a self-taught chef, lumberjack, gardener, movie editor, art historian, lepidopterist, fisherman, watercolorist and loved the gadgets associated with every hobby. He devoured the morning paper, The New Yorker, crossword puzzles, Hemingway, crime novels, classic movies, Big Band and jazz music. Though he traveled the world, he was happiest in his home in Bonny Doon, relishing the view of redwoods and the ocean for over 40 years.

Rodney was predeceased by his parents, sister, Roberta, and nephew, Noah MacMillan. He is dearly missed by his wife, Linda Thomas, his daughter, Laura Hanley (John Hanley), granddaughter, Mary Hanley (Kevin Harris), adopted son, Jeffrey MacMillan (Lucinda Leach), their sons, Seth and Julian MacMillan, Hitomi Inoue (Noah’s fiancée), his brother, Ralph Thomas (MaryAnn Thomas) and extended family.

Rod’s life will be celebrated at a private memorial in October.

Donations to honor Rod can be contributed to Planned Parenthood or Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz.