Marianne Claire Roderick

Dr. Marianne Claire Roderick, age 84, passed away peacefully on December 10th.

Born and raised in Maryland, Marianne later settled in Evanston, Illinois, where she spent her adult life after completing her PhD at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Roderick devoted much of her professional life to advancing higher education in the United States. She began her career at National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in 1967, where her forward thinking, leadership, and commitment to academic excellence guided her steady advancement. In 2005, she retired as President of National Merit Scholarship Corporation, concluding nearly four decades of service dedicated to recognizing, cultivating, and supporting student achievement nationwide.

Marianne was an independent and formidable force—principled, self-directed, and unafraid to hold firm to her convictions. She balanced a keen, academic mind with an expansive capacity for thoughtfulness. While she was known for her leadership and integrity, she was equally soft and deeply caring, particularly toward her two cats, BB and Bandit.

Her curiosity and disciplined nature were evident in her love for academic reading, research, and collecting. She eschewed indecisiveness in favor of quick-minded thinking, and well-informed opinions. Outside of her professional life, she embraced daily rituals: strong coffee to start the day, and an equally strong martini after 5:00 PM. While she took pride in avoiding cooking, she found great joy in shared meals and the thoughtful conversation that accompanied them.

Marianne carried this same discipline into retirement, taking up golf and painting. She remained dedicated to her community, volunteering her time with Westminster Place and her neighborhood homeowner’s association.

Though a woman of firm independence, her ties to family and home remained strong. Aunt Piggy, as she was affectionately known, returned to Maryland several times each year to visit her sister and extended family, and she cherished quiet weeks at the cottage on the shores of Lake Erie in Van Buren Point, New York.

She was preceded in death by her parents, the Rev. Raymond and Anna Mary Roderick, and her lifelong dear friend, M. Elizabeth Jacka.

She is survived by her sister, Nancy Newton; her niece, Lera Straits (Jeff), and their children, Brennan and Ian; and her nephew, Roderick Newton (Ellen), and their children, Claire and Mauri. She will be remembered for the difference she made in this world—a profound impact on education, family, and community.

Special thanks to the welcoming and compassionate care at Homewood at Williamsport who supported her transition from Illinois to Maryland in her final year.

A Celebration of Life will be held in early spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to National Merit Scholarship Corporation https://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/start.aspx?gid=2&pgid=61 or Alley Cat Allies https://secure.alleycat.org/page/68062/donate