Roderick (Rod) Paul Stevens

Rod Stevens passed away unexpectedly in the early hours of January 2, 2017 at the age of 87. Rod was born in Portland, Maine on November 25, 1929 to Margaret E. (nee Johnson) and John Harold Stevens. He graduated from St. George High School, Evanston, IL and attended the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN majoring in journalism. He then attended Bryant and Stratton Business College, studying business administration. He was drafted and is a veteran of the Korean War, having seen active service in 1952. Upon his discharge, he became a salesman at his father’s company, Paramount Pictures, in Chicago, Il. He later worked as a salesman at Addressograph Multigraph, GAF and others. He moved to Santa Barbara and worked at Cottage Hospital in security for many years, retiring to Lompoc, CA. Rod was a devout fan of the Bears, Notre Dame football, and his beloved Cubbies. A favorite memory of Rod’s was as young man riding the “L” down to Wrigley with his brother Jack to cheer on the “Lovable Losers” as Bleacher Bums. Rod loved Jazz music, books, and movies and would share his passion for the Kingston Trio with his son Pete and his love of musicals, especially Danny Kaye, with his daughter Megan. Rod adored his family and would share pictures and stories of them with everyone he met. It was not uncommon for his children to meet friends and acquaintances of Rod’s only to discover that they already knew everything about them. He is loved, missed, and survived by his children: Peter Stevens (Christa), Megan Scouten (nee Stevens) (David), grandchildren Samuel, Walter, Evelyn, and Shayla, as well as his sister, Margaret (Peggy) Stevens (Dennis Story) and the mother of his children and longtime friend, Cathy Stevens. He was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother and lifelong best friend, John H. (Jack) Stevens, II. In accordance with his wishes, there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Heart Association or Cottage Hospital.