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375th Medical Group dedicates auditorium to co-worker

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The 375th Medical Group hosted a ceremony recently to dedicate the Scott Clinic auditorium to the late retired Chief Master Sgt. Rodney Albert Deltgen.

The auditorium, in the clinic's basement, is where most hospital events take place. The space will now be referred to as "The Chief Master Sgt. Rodney A. Deltgen Auditorium."

The ceremony recognized Deltgen's 30 years of dedicated service to his country in the Air Force. Twenty-three of those years were at Scott's medical clinic.

"Rodney touched many lives as the medical group's training administrator," said Chief Master Sgt. Tanya A. Gardner, 375th Medical Group superintendent. "He ensured all of our dental and medical residents, as well as enlisted Phase II students and staff members alike received the quality training that they deserved."

Deltgen's death came unexpected; he was getting ready to go home after work Feb. 23, 2011 when he suffered a heart attack in his vehicle parked in the 375th Medical Group parking lot. Since he was in the medical clinic's parking lot, the emergency responders were quick to try and help revive him, but it was not soon enough according to retired Senior Master Sgt. Sherri Tarun, a Scott Red Cross volunteer.

"Deltgen was a humble man and a great person, said Tarun. "He kept his family life separate from work. He focused on what was important and that was making the hospital a better place for patients and the staff."

Seventeen of his family members attended the ceremony at Scott, where they were surprised to see an image of their husband, father and grandfather that they would get to keep forever. The 375th MDG community presented his family members with a painted portrait of Deltgen in his retired Air Force uniform.

"I was surprised when they unveiled the painting," said his daughter Gloria Lima with tears in her eyes. "I knew they were dedicating the auditorium to him, but the painting will be a piece of him we can keep forever."

A plaque was also presented and will remain in the hospital as a reminder of Deltgen's service and impact he made on the medical community at Scott.