Rodman David Starke (Rod) died as he wished; peacefully and easily, in his home on December 5th.  He was preceded by the love of his life, Esther Benedict Starke, and his son Peter.  He is survived by his daughter Susan, sone Stephen and grandchidren Mel, Libby and Angelina.  He lived 91 years and made a powerful impact on the world of medicine, his community, and the people around him.

He loved his family, friends and his work.  He got great pleasure from sports (lacrosse, fishing, skiing, tennis, golf), music (singing in the Dallas Symphony Choir), travel with the Heart Association, and golf friends, good jokes, great puns, difficult puzzles and a well-turned phrase, and a delicious gourmet recipe.

He and Esther were especially fond of the many escapades with the Guardsmen of San Francisco.  Raising money for "Kids to Camp" and raising the bar on fun with the special group of friends they made in those times and kept close until the end.  

 They also created a lifetime of memories at their Bear Valey cabin with the grand view of the top of the Sierras.  Skiing and backpacking, sailing and tennis.  There were horse pack trips, hikes, picnics, and many late-night conversations around the table or in front of the fire summer winter and spring with everyone we loved.  

Rod got deeply involved in everything he did.  He sat on many boards, including the Guardsmen of San Francisco, serving as president, and the Branson School in Ross.

HE was born in Durham, NH to ay and Ruth Starke, attended Andover, his beloved Williams College (Magna Cum Laude) where he was All-American in lacrosse, and Harvar Medical School.  HE served his internship and residency at Mass General in Boston.  He was a Fellow in Cardiology at the US Naval Aerospace Medical School in Pensacola Florida contributing to the Apollo mission readiness, a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the Council on Clinical Cardiology,  of the Americal College of Cardiology at the America Heart Association, a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a board member of the National Association for Biomedical Research.  He retired as Executive Vice President of the American Heart Association.

Rod was also a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco and a Professor Emeritus at University of California.  He served as Chief of Cardiology, Director of the Coronary Care Unit and Chief of Staff at Davies Hospital in San Francisco.

We are so grateful to know that he is at rest with Mom and Pete.  We will see you on the mountain Dad. 

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