MFH: 13 November

Today is the 99th anniversary of the birth of my maternal grandfather, Benedict Aloysius Roddy. Benedict was born 13 November 1909 in Vincent, Washington, Ohio, USA, the fourth son (of five) and sixth child (of nine) of Owen Francis "Frank" and Catherine Regina (Holden) Roddy.

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On 16 June 1936, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA, he married Mary Eileen Hayes. Ben and Eileen had thirteen children, nine daughters and four sons. In late 1961, Ben, Eileen, and nine of the children moved from Vincent, Ohio to the San Fernando Valley in California. Ben and Eileen moved back to Ohio in the spring of 1979 and Eileen died 23 November 1979 in Marietta, Ohio. Ben died there on 17 December 1994.

Benedict Aloysius Roddy (1909-1994), about 1927.

Ben Roddy with his mother, Catherine Regina (Holden) Roddy, circa 1930.

Ben and Eileen Roddy with their eldest five children shortly before Ben went into the Navy during World War II, 1944.

Ben and Eileen Roddy with twelve of their thirteen children, circa 1960.

Ben walking my mother down the aisle on my parents wedding day, 1960.

My maternal grandparents, Mary Eileen (Hayes) and Benedict Aloysius Roddy on my parents wedding day, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Marietta, Ohio, 07 May 1960.

Ben and Eileen Roddy with five of their children, Summer 1979.

My descent from Ben is:
Benedict Aloysius Roddy + Mary Eileen Hayes
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My Mother + My Father
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Me

Thoughts on Marriage

I find myself thinking alot, of late, about marriage. Thanks in large measure to the California Supreme Court ruling allowing same-sex marriage. As children we are taught the ideal of falling in love with and marrying the person of your dreams. This is true even for those of us who gradually (or not so gradually) come to realize that the people we are attracted to and fall in love with are people of the same gender. It seems that for a large portion of the non-LGBT population, these two ideas are and must remain mutually exclusive. As disappointing and heart-breaking as it was, I came to accept the fact that American society, as a whole, was not and would not become enlightened enough for me to marry the man of my dreams. It was even more disappointing when I actually found him (or did he find me?!?!).

Now, more than 19 years after we first met, it has become a reality in some locations, that two men or two women can get married. Viva la revolución! Will Chuck and I take advantage of the California Supreme Court ruling to get married? I would like us to but it would be little more than a symbolic gesture for us. (I doubt that Indiana will join that bandwagon any time soon.)

The most curious aspect, to me, of the debate for or against same-sex marriage is the idea that the marriage of one couple can have a negative impact (or any impact) on the marriage of another couple. I just don't understand how any marriage can impact any other marriage. If those people using such arguments were truly concerned about the impact of other marriages on their own then they should get equally worked up about any and all divorces. Surely, another couple ending their marriage would have a greater impact than two men or two women starting a marriage. How can two men or two women soberly and thoughtfully entering into a marriage be more harmful than a man and a woman getting married and then annulling that marriage 56 hours later? Rant much, Rick?