Friends and family are mourning a local business owner, chamber of commerce president, US Navy veteran and retired Philadelphia police officer who died from a flesh-eating bacterial infection.
Jerome Rodio passed away Thursday at the age of 75. The Chester County Press reports Rodio was on a fishing trip in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland when he suffered a scratch on his arm while helping someone pull in crabs.
A rare, flesh-eating bacterial infection then entered his body. He was taken to the University of Maryland Hospital where he passed away.
A visitation and funeral service will be held for Rodio at the Stella Maris Church on 2901 S. 10th Street in Philadelphia Wednesday, starting at 10 a.m.
Rodio, who is originally from Camden, New Jersey but lived in West Grove, Pennsylvania prior to his death, was a US Navy veteran and retired Philadelphia police officer. He then started his own used furniture, antique and collectible business in South Jersey for 25 years before adding a location to Oxford, Pennsylvania in 2009. Rodio also served as the President of the Board of the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce.
Friends told the Chester County Press Rodio was heavily involved in the Oxford community, volunteering at events, recruiting new businesses to the town and regularly attending borough council meetings.
“Jerome was many, many things to this community but what sticks with me the most is that he was a positive force,” Sue Cole, the interim executive director of Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce, told the Chester County Press. “You could feel his constant presence of keeping people on point, bringing light to those things that needed light to be brought to them—all while being respectful and keeping compassion for community members at the forefront.”
