Rodney Gilman Eide

Rodney Gilman Eide, born Feb. 17, 1934, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 28, 2026, surrounded by his family and loved ones. Rod was born in Moorhead, Minnesota, one of five children, went to North Dakota State University, Majored in Engineering. Rod is survived by Nan, his wife of 60 years, two sisters, five children, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Rod and Nan were long-time residence and community leaders in Laguna Niguel and Dana Point.

Rod was a prominent, long-serving figure within Rotary International most notably recognized for his extensive leadership in Southern California District 5320 and his deep ties to the Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club. Known locally as "Rotary Rod" was a foundational mainstay of the Sunrise Club and was highly active in the Dana Point area since its charting in 1988. He held many offices in this Club throughout his years including; Club Treasurer, Vice President, President, Past President, and most importantly as the District Governor for District 5320 during the 2001-2002 leadership year. He managed and oversaw operations of 50 Rotary Clubs in Orange County and parts of Los Angeles County. During his tenure as Governor, he famously executed "official visits" to local chapters including the Newport Beach Sunrise and Newport-Balboa Clubs.

He is recognized as a multi-tier Paul Harris Fellow contributor heavily supporting the financial backbone of the Rotary Foundation's global humanitarian causes.

Throughout his years he had remained a vocal proponent of preserving Rotary's legacy, emphasizing the importance of recruiting established, community-minded members ages 35 and up who possess the 'time, talent, and resources to support multigenerational service work. Beyond administrative duties, he directly managed regional fundraising events, such as handling ticketing and logistics for the club's major charity initiatives like the Dana Point Lobster Fest.

Outside of his charitable endeavors, Rod brought exact detailing and administrative acumen to his volunteer work from a background in the aerospace industry as a Mechanical Engineer. He used his extraordinary organizational expertise over the decades to assist Southern California communities. Including volunteering as a board member or regional homeowner associations to help them optimize budgets and restructure fees.

A celebration of life and reception will be announced at a later date.