Rod Lazorik

Think back to our grade school playgrounds. Wooden swings, with metal chains, over a tar surface. This may help you remember run-unders. The term could have been used only at Brookside School so, if you aren't familiar with it, ask someone who went there.

Roddy gave the best run-under of any sixth grade boy on our playground. Others may remember him for another of his many achievements: creating art, teaching, writing, clear political thinking. I remember him for the run-unders.

Linda Lindquist Daube

I didn't know Rod well in HS,but had a very interesting conversation with him at the 60th reunion at the Kip's Bar gathering. What an interesting,wise man! I'm so glad we met after all those years. Rod contributed so much in his life!

Here is a link to his Obituary on the Funeral home's website

Here is Rod's Obituary

Wayne Roderic Lazorik

Born May 8^th 1939 Died January 20^th 2023 age 83

     Wayne “Rod” Lazorik passed away peacefully at his home in Sugar Grove, North Carolina on January 20, 2023, in the company of his family.  Rod was born on May 8, 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is survived by his sister Peggy Sellwood, son Pablo Armijo, life partner Kathleen Campbell step-children Mariel and Colin Campbell.

Rod grew up in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota where he pursued sport and leisure in equal parts. He excelled as a cross-country athlete. With unbridled vigor, he and his gang (Tim Kiernan, Art Patterson, Bob Oas, Bob Erickson) created the Taranchalathon, a ten-event track and field race wherein participants were tested to the fullest extent. In 2022, Rod was inducted into the St Hall of Fame.

Rod received his undergraduate and graduate education from 1958-1966 at the University of Minnesota. During this time, he ran “the Raven”, a 3.2 bar near campus, where he hosted one of Bob Dylan’s final performances, and he founded the Westbank Gallery in Minneapolis.

In 1966 Rod was offered a job as an Instructor in the Art department of the University of New Mexico, and he moved to Albuquerque to teach at UNM while still finishing his B.S. and MFA at University of Minnesota. Rod subsequently was hired on as faculty at UNM and contributed to the development of the university’s world-class Photography program in the Department of Art and Art History as Assistant professor, Associate Professor, Chairperson, and ultimately Professor Emeritus by the time he retired in 1996. His mentors and colleagues included esteemed photographers Van Deren Coke, Beaumont Newhall, Tom Barrow, Betty Hahn, David Michael Kennedy, Patrick Nagatani, and Joel-Peter Witkin. His 1990 portrait by photographer Charles Rushton is archived in the Smithsonian Museum of American History. Rod’s photographs have been archived nationally and internationally in collections including the University of New Mexico Museum of Art, the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Gallery of Canada, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and the Joseph Bellows Gallery.

Rod lived in Sugar Grove NC for the past 25 years, was an active card player at the Western Watauga Community Center, a democratic poll worker, and made friends wherever he went. 

Rod was an artist, a poet, and a highly skilled craftsman, and his creativity seeped into all his work, from photography to fine carpentry. He loved, and was loved by, animals of all kinds. Rod was a mentor, colleague, teacher, brother, husband, partner, father, grandfather, and to so many, a friend. He will be greatly missed.

It was Rod's wishes that there be no official funeral or memorial, but please feel encouraged to meet as you wish in groups of your choosing.

A Colage Rod was working on, on the left are his war rations, on the right Roddy age 5 in a uniform made by his mother Fern Lazorik

You are still my best friend after all these yers.

Hi, Rod,

Soon it's your birthday again. You are leading the way for the rest of us. 81, isn't it? Have a great day, and stay safe and secure at home, if you can.

Toni Souza was my soul sister of many years. I will miss her love for life, and all the gifts she provided to her family and friends, and even total strangers. She inspired all with such positive thoughts no matter how big or small. I will miss her with all my heart. Having Toni in my life has made me a better person. Love you, Toni

Peggy Lazorik Sellwood

Class of 1961 St. Louis Park 

Posted on: May 08, 2019 at 3:33 AM

Happy Birthday. I enjoyed visiting with you at our reunion

Hi Janet, It was nice to see you at the reunion. I found this old photo, give it to Kay if she does not have a copy. Love and stuff, Rod

Wayne R. Lazorik
568 Laurel Creek Rd.
Sugar Grove, NC 28679-9511
828-297-3570
lazorik@unm.edu

Ed, send me your address and I will send you a copy of Word.
Wayne R. Lazorik
568 Laurel Creek Rd.
Sugar Grove, NC 28679-9511
828-297-3570
lazorik@unm.edu

Posted on: May 08, 2018 at 3:33 AM

Posted on: May 08, 2016 at 3:33 AM