Rodney D. Pierce

Rodney D. Pierce, 83, formerly of Stafford Springs, CT, passed away on June 3, 2025. Rodney was born in Providence, RI, to Helen (Petersen) and Russell Pierce. He grew up in Warwick, RI, and attended Colby College. He then went into the Air Force where he became the youngest commander of the mighty B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber. He left the military and started a life of banking at People’s Bank in Providence, RI. During that time he attended graduate school for banking at Brown University. In 1977, he moved his family to Hanover, NH, to take the position of vice president at Dartmouth Savings Bank. He went on in 1983 to begin an over 30 year career at the nationally recognized Stafford Savings Bank in Stafford Springs, where he was president, CEO and chairman of the board. Rodney also belonged to several boards of directors in banking and several community organizations, including membership on numerous committees at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford, CT. In his spare time he enjoyed golfing, the U.S. Mint, all things weather and sailing with Al Carville, a great friend for 66 years. He is survived by his three children, Michael Pierce (Fairfax, VA), Mark and his wife, Sara Pierce, (West Hartford, CT) and Sharon and her husband, Chris Misale, (Willimantic, CT). Also, his sister, Marcia Wirth, of Jamestown, RI, Amanda Hemmelgarn of West Hartford, CT, and Mike Hemmelgarn of Monson, MA, along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Sheila Mooney, Trudy (Kelly) Pierce and Derek Hemmelgarn. Calling hours will be on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM, with a memorial service beginning at 3:00 PM at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, CT. A special thank you to Medista and Carolann and all the staff at Brookdale Chatfield Assisted Living & Memory Care and the Brighton Hospice team in West Hartford who took exceptional and loving care of him for the last years of his life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Citizens Scholarship Foundation of Stafford Springs, attn: Krista Hicks, PO Box 25, Stafford Springs, CT, 06076. To leave a message of sympathy for his family, or for directions, please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com