Dates
Luther Rodney (Rod) Bridgman, 78, of Titusville, Florida, passed away on July 13, 2024 following a brief illness.
Rod was born to Ivan and Eudora Bridgman in Ponca City, Oklahoma on June 13, 1946. His mother was thrilled to have a baby boy on whom to dote and had a close and loving relationship with her son throughout her life. After graduating from Ponca City High School he attended Bethany Nazarene College In Oklahoma City, OK.
Rod had a carefree and unconventional approach to life from a young age. Among his many successful career endeavors were jewelry wholesaling and later commodity trading. He met the love of his life, Dennise Ferry, in Tyler, Texas in 1994. They married three years later in Jamaica, honeymooning on the Blues Cruise.
Rod’s love for Blues music ran wide and deep. He was a respected Blues aficionado. His enthusiasm for all things artful was immediate, infectious and irreplaceable. After retiring to San Angelo, Texas in 1999 his dream of creating a Blues venue evolved into something much larger.
Rod spearheaded the creation of the San Angelo Blues Society, the annual Simply Texas Blues Festival, and the unexpected Blues movement in West Texas. He was instrumental in bringing about the revitalization of downtown San Angelo and was a key figure in its growth through the years.
He and Dennise purchased an Antebellum style building at 204 S. Oakes St. in February 1999. At the time, that area of downtown San Angelo was 80% unoccupied. The couple spent 10 years restoring the old building that had been condemned and abandoned for 20 years creating a magical boutique hotel and music venue – Sealy Flats Diner & Blues Inn. Rod was known for bringing a host of local visual artists and musicians together – nurturing them, supporting them, loving them. He also regularly featured award-winning state and national Blues acts in his intimate courtyard on that small, beloved Sealy Flats stage.
He and Dennise moved to Titusville, Florida in the early spring of 2015 to be closer to family.
Missed will be Rod’s endearing, laid-back greeting, “What’s going oooon?” Missed will be his undying optimism and missed will be his humanity.
He made a difference. He was loved.
Rod is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Jo Cobb. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Dennise of Titusville, his sons Dyllan Speller of San Diego, CA and Derek Speller of Tacoma, WA, a sister Jean Bray (Paul) of Shawnee, OK, grandchildren Bentley, Stanley and Bella Speller, numerous nieces and nephews and an enormous circle of friends and extended family.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 22, 2024 at North Brevard Funeral Home, 1450 Norwood Ave, Titusville, FL with visitation at 3:00 pm followed by the funeral at 4pm. A Life Celebration is being planned to be held in San Angelo, Texas soon.
In lieu of flowers please consider making contributions in Rod’s name to Art in Uncommon Places, San Angelo,Tx ; The Pinetop Perkins Foundation, Clarksdale, MS or a charity of your choice.