Carmen Roda, recreation superintendent for Westport's Parks and Recreation Department, has resigned, citing personal reasons following the death of his wife, Veronica Ellen Roda, 59, in May, according to the department's office manager and Roda himself.
Westport recreation superintendent Carmen Roda resigns for family reasons
Carmen Roda, recreation superintendent for Westport's Parks and Recreation Department, has resigned, citing personal reasons following the death of his wife, Veronica Ellen Roda, 59, in May, according to the department's office manager and Roda himself.
Jamie Boone, the department's office manager, confirmed the departure by email, stating: 'Carmen Roda has resigned last week due to personal reasons. The town wishes him the best in his future endeavors.'
Roda said by text on Tuesday that the decision was 'not an easy one' and that he felt it was time to focus on his family 'and to begin figuring out what the next chapter of our lives will look like.'
Roda's most recent salary as recreation superintendent was $113,300, according to the town's finance department. He was hired to that role last year after serving five years as the department's operations manager.
During his tenure, Roda attended multiple Planning and Zoning Commission meetings concerning a proposal to add lighting to two athletic fields. Neighbors of Wakeman Field praised him for answering his cell phone when they had concerns and for personally introducing himself to each neighbor during a community walkthrough.
Before joining the department, Roda announced his retirement in 2018 as athletic director of the Westport Police Athletic League after nine years in that role and 22 years as a coach. He was credited in a January 2018 CT Insider article as 'a driving force behind Westport installing four turf fields and acquiring lights at Staples High School.' Football teams he coached won five conference championships; he was named Westport Sportsman of the Year in 2007 and Fairfield County Sportsman of the Year in 2006, according to the same article.
- The source does not state whether or when the recreation superintendent position will be filled, or what the interim arrangement is.
- Erik Barbieri, director of Parks and Recreation, did not respond to telephone calls or emails regarding Roda's departure or plans for the vacant position; his position on either matter is not known.
- The source does not state the exact date of Roda's resignation.
- The source does not state the outcome of the Planning and Zoning Commission proposal to add lighting to the two athletic fields.
- The source does not provide detail on the personal reasons beyond the death of Roda's wife.
Read the original at Westport Journal