Born in Pittsfield Massachusetts on May 26, 1925 and passed away on September 22, 2O11
Parents were Rodman C. Henry and Grace Robinson Henry.
Sister was Fay Janet Henry
Dr. Henry was Fourth Generation to live in Pittsfield
Dr. Henry was an art history professor at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts for more than forty years. He was an art historian, scholar, “Magical Teacher”, advisor, curator of Pine Mano/s
treasures , was author of over 80 critical reviews and was an architectural historian. He was the first to hold an endowed chair at Pine Manor and was the first to receive the Kellogg Fellowship for unusually distinguished and creative service to the College.
ln World War ll he received an Infantry Combat Medal, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He was drafted following high school and became a member of a Ranger unit in ltaly. Eight months later he was struck by machine gun fire, which wounded his right hand and then ricocheted across his chest where it hit a grenade that was in his chest pocket. With his left hand, Rod pulled the activated grenade out of the pocket and hurled it away from his body. lt exploded quickly blowing off his hand and part of his arm. Shrapnel smashed one of his legs and remained in his leg the rest of his life.
Rod was a man of music and as a promising cellist, all of which came to an abrupt halt. Classified as permanently disabled, Rod was not permitted to take advantage of the Gl Bill. He was only allowed to take college courses, which would “Vocationally Rehabilitate” him. He eventually studied at Harvard, but found the college too overpowering, eventually settling on American international College in Springfield Massachusetts.
At first Rod felt reclusive, unwilling to be viewed as an oddity. He had a prosthetic arm with a hook, a deformed other hand and a damaged leg. Remembering a gardener with a hook for a hand terrified Rod as a child. Rod vowed never to frighten a child, but later found that children were the most receptive to his disabilities.
Education became his mission in life. Rod wanted to teach humanities and felt he could have a positive influence on college aged students. At the time, those with visible handicaps could not teach in the public sector, so his mission seemed out of reach. Rod enrolled at Boston University for graduate study and earned his PhD. He was presented with an opportunity to teach alongside Professor Bailey, who was the head of Fine Arts. Professor Bailey became ill so Rod was able to cover the professor’s classes This opportunity was the true beginning of Rod’s long and productive teaching career. ln 1.955 Rod started at Pine Manor College as a professor and was there that his love for teaching blossomed.
His family ties eventually brought him back to Pittsfield where he retired. His sister Fay Janet Henry was still living in Pittsfield.
Both Rod and Fay had a strong allegiance to Pittsfield and particularly to the young and the needy. Without any other family members, they decided to do all that they could for their Community in their Wills.
They picked their charities of choice that they felt most interested in and ones that they felt could make a major difference for the community.
Most of their assets went to Twenty-Four charities of which the Pittsfield Cemetery was one.
Thank you Fay and Rodman Henry for your sizable gift to the Pittsfield Cemetery .