Help build Sunset Acres in Skillman
April 25, 1954 - March 31, 2025
Paul Stanley Rodland died on March 31, 2025. He was 70.
On April 25, 1954, Paul was welcomed into this world by Marie and Stanley Rodland in Glen Cove, Long Island. His mother still "patiently" recounts Paul's toddler antics. At age five, his family included his little sister Donna, and they moved to Griggstown, NJ. Paul thrived in the company of his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and neighbors.
In 1972 Paul graduated from Franklin High School. His four years also included milking cows on a neighboring farm every morning and afternoon. His passion for dirt bikes and motorcycles roared into action in fields and trails and he raced at motorcycle tracks.
Paul attended Rowan Community College in Glassboro, NJ. He earned an associate's degree in industrial arts. Paul began his reputation as an unconventional thinker by purchasing a bread truck and converting into a camper to save costs of boarding in the dormitory.
Paul then went to Daytona, Florida to learn motorcycle mechanics. He lived and worked in Asheville, North Carolina, developing fond memories of that area.
Paul returned to Griggstown and worked at Burgers Motorcycle shop in Flemington, NJ. He acquired the nickname "Ram Jam" for his approach to turning wrenches and perpetual process.
Paul's father invited him to help build Sunset Acres, a custom housing development in Skillman, NJ. Upon completion, Paul built his own house in Ringoes.
He married Gail Gibson. They met through ads in a newspaper. In 1998, Tobias Stanley was born on Paul's Birthday. Paul enjoyed teaching his son creative mechanical skills. In 2005, Gail lost her battle with cancer. Paul maintained his own home construction and remodeling business while caring for her and Tobi despite a decade-long battle with Lyme disease.
In 2010 Paul married Cathy Smith and made room in his house for her three young adult children. They enjoyed epic adventures traveling to and from Camp Spofford in New Hampshire, cutting and splitting wood for their home furnace and sharing six cats. They spent spring and fall in Crestview, Flroida with Sandra and her husband Dave.
Paul's hobbies included, but by no means limited to, flying his home built plane, boating and sailing, scuba diving, welding, fixing anything and everything, and science.
He belonged to Montgomery Evangelical Free Church for over 50 years. He helped his grandfather and father build the original church and redid many touch ups to the present building.
Paul was most known for his unconventional mechanical solutions, generosity with his time and talents, and his faith in the God of the Bible and science. He belonged to ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out with cousins and friends from his childhood).
He is survived by his mother, Ann Marie Rodland, wife Catherine Smith-Rodland, and Son Tobias Rodland. In addition he had Aunt Alice(Sue) Norbey, niece Jennifer Melkowits, nephew Jonathan Kohan. Cathy's children, Bill, Caleb and Sandra, were lucky to have Paul in their lives. Paul had three step grandchildren and special friends Hasan and Aysha.
Memorial donations can be made to:
- The Montgomery Evangelical Free Church Building Fund
-Camp Spofford Scholarship Fund -
-International Students Inc (ISI) in Princeton -
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