Final Salute

Thomas Drew Rodgers was born in Roswell, NM on February 21, 1947, to M.O. “Buddy” Rodgers and Josephine Iapello Rodgers. Tom passed away in the comfort of his Sarasota home on February 17, 2025.
Tom graduated from Roswell High School in 1965 and immediately join the Navy. He served four years in the Navy stationed in Japan and served two tours in Vietnam as a Seabee in their construction battalion attached to the 3rd battalion Marine division. He was honorably discharged in June 1969.

In May 1972, Tom married Kathleen Boydston and they had two children, Tomi and Collin.

Tom graduated from Texas Tech College of Architecture in 1976 and began his architectural career working for Peter Paulson Company in San Jose, CA. Tom also worked for R.W. Waggoner as an associate and later formed a partnership with Bill Pulley in Roswell. They designed schools, churches, residential and commercial buildings, townhouses as well as numerous projects at New Mexico Military Institute. His career also took Tom and his family to Lubbock and Austin, TX, Irvine and Oxnard, CA where he worked on designs for the U.S. Postal Service and universities.

Following the California Northridge earthquake Tom became involved in condo association designs and evolved into an expert Architect witness for damages incurred with faulty construction on condos. Throughout the earthquake rebuild, Tom became interested in disaster cases. This led him to work with Pilot Catastrophe Services based in Mobile, Alabama. As a licensed insurance adjuster, he traveled throughout the United States to disaster areas to assess damage losses.
After working in Florida Tom decided that was where he wanted to retire. He met and later married his current wife Sue Balas in Sarasota on November 15, 2015. He enjoyed the weather, the golf courses and spending time with his family. Tom, Sue and Kathy celebrated holidays, birthdays and enjoyed family time together as a blended family.
Tom is survived by his wife, Sue Balas, his daughter, Tomi Rodgers and his son Collin (Tacilyn) Rodgers, stepson, Zachary Balas and stepdaughter, Kate Balas, grandchildren Enzo and Luigi, and former wife, Kathy Rodgers all of Florida. His two brothers Paul (Patricia) Rodgers and Mark (Jeannie) Rodgers of New Mexico. Nephews and nieces, Bryan Rodgers, Lindsay (Ryan) Burden, Drew (Kendra) Rodgers and Dani (Aaron) Pirtle, great nephews and nieces Eathyn, Samanda, and Khloee Rodgers, Jaylynn, Katie, and Brook Burden, Jocelyn and Colton Rodgers, Paige, Eli and Oliver Pirtle and one great, great nephew Braeden.

Military services will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 12:30 p.m. at the Sarasota National Cemetery in Sarasota, Florida.