Stroud Water Research Center mourns the loss of Rodman W. Moorhead III, a longtime board member, ardent supporter, and transformative leader whose impact on our organization and many others will be felt for generations.
A graduate of The Taft School, Harvard College, and Harvard Business School, his remarkable intellect and drive led to a successful career as a venture capitalist with Warburg Pincus.
Rod’s association with the Stroud Center began in the early 1990s, a time of immense change for the organization. His fearless leadership and business acumen were instrumental in negotiating the Stroud Center’s independence from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (now Drexel University), a transition finalized in 1999. Alongside W.B. Dixon Stroud and John R.S. Fisher, D.V.M., Rod guided the negotiations and later provided the financial support and strategic vision needed to secure the Stroud Center’s stability and growth.
As a board member from 1998 to 2020 and chair or co-chair from 2000 to 2018, Rod dedicated himself to advancing the Stroud Center’s mission to advance knowledge and stewardship of fresh water. He served on key committees, including Development, Executive, Finance, and Governance, and was granted emeritus status in 2021 in recognition of his decades of service.
His immense generosity was instrumental in the construction of the Moorhead Environmental Complex, the Stroud Center’s LEED Platinum building for education and public outreach.
Rod’s fearless, no-nonsense leadership style made a profound impact on those he believed in and supported. He often asked incisive, thought-provoking questions, challenging others to reflect, grow, and strive for greater efficiency and effectiveness. His dedication to making an impact helped the Stroud Center to align its operations with sound business principles, transforming its public recognition and operational strategy.
Beyond the Stroud Center, Rod was deeply involved in fox hunting, horse racing, and philanthropy. He served on the boards of the Stroud Foundation, Imagine Schools, Inc., The Taft School, and the Brandywine River Museum and sponsored the Willowdale Steeplechase, supporting causes that reflected his passion for education, the environment, and the equestrian community.
Rod was respected for his intelligence, candor, and unwavering commitment to excellence. His legacy is one of vision, generosity, and relentless determination.
He challenged us to do better, to think bigger, and to approach every task with purpose. We honor his memory with gratitude for the countless ways he helped shape the Stroud Center and its mission.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to have known him, especially his wife, Alice, and sons Rodman IV and Clay, who carry on the torch that he lit in support of fresh water.
