Bob came from upstate Troy, New York. He majored in history and philosophy at West Virginia Wesleyan College then majored in theology at Yale Divinity School. While in college and seminary, he worked small churches to support his young family. He did graduate work in intellectual history at Temple University and in theology at Drew University. He was ordained in the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church. In 2006, he retired and a year later, discovered the TCUUC, where started the book club. In 2008, he began seven years of part-time ministry at the TCUUC then retired again and moved to Asheville, NC. A year later, Bob and his wife returned to the area, and the TCUUC. 
:
Last January, the UUA offered empty commercial space at its headquarters to the state as a free temporary overnight shelter. Roderick, Angela, and their young child are among those granted haven there.
Source: UUA World from UUA.org
