Thomas Weston Hodge, III

Dr. Thomas Weston Hodge III, loving husband, father, respected immunologist and virologist, passed away at the age of 69 Saturday, July 31st, 2021 at St. Simons Island, Georgia. Thomas Hodge was born on the 25th of July, 1952 in Gainesville, Georgia, to the late Thomas Weston Hodge Jr. and the late Francis Powell Hodge. He was the older brother of Jack Hodge and Helen Hodge Fuller. He attended Emory University, the University of Georgia for graduate work and East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, Tennessee, where he received two Outstanding Alumni awards. While in Johnson City, he met and married the love of his life, Cathy Milner Hodge. Together, they had four daughters: Raegan, Leslie, Alison and Anna. Dr. Hodge was the former Director of Immunogenetics at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He authored or co-authored over 100 peer reviewed publications, book chapters, patents, IND, Orphan Drug applications, and spent six years in an NIH study group. At the height of the AIDS epidemic, Dr. Hodge served as a Section Chief of Molecular Immunology at the National Center for Infectious Diseases at the CDC. Across his career, he spent time at the University of Alabama, University of Georgia, and Emory University and always endeavored to find answers to some of the toughest questions in virology and pathology. He was a thinker and a doer. Like many men of medicine and academia, he confronted sobering truths about the limitations of the human body. He was witty, clever and sardonic. He was tirelessly devoted to helping people, curing disease and creating new approaches to medicine. Right before his death, he was an integral part of a team bringing new medical technology to South Georgia that saved hundreds of COVID patients’ lives. In addition to his professional passions, he also enjoyed rooting for his beloved Georgia Bulldogs, listening to classic rock and taking his family on vacations to the Caribbean. He was a committed husband to his wife of 40 years, Cathy Milner Hodge; a writer and teacher. He was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church and loyal friend to many. He was goofy and clever. Though his dad jokes sometimes made us cringe, they were always sweet and endearing (even if we heard the same joke 50 times). His hugs were long and sincere. He was proud of his daughters: Raegan Nicole Hodge, a filmmaker and communications specialist in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Leslie Hodge Turner, a sales and marketing manager in Jacksonville, Florida, Alison Hodge Bondell, a nurse practitioner in Charleston, South Carolina, and Anna Hodge Boisse, a digital marketing consultant and entrepreneur in Atlanta. Over the course of his life, he was overjoyed to become a grandfather six times, to Weston Thomas Turner, Izzabella Marie Bondell, Ryen Elizabeth Boisse, Darby Jane Bondell, William Hodge Boisse and Marian Addison Turner. Tragically, the same day Dr. Hodge passed away his beloved granddaughter Izzy Bondell, just 6 years of age, succumbed to childhood cancer. Despite the overwhelming sadness of our losses, we are comforted that they are at peace together. Their lives were a blessing and their memories will continue to inspire us and make us smile. The celebration of Dr. Hodge’s life will take place at 11am Saturday, August 7th, 2021 at St. Simons Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow at the Sea Palms Club from 12pm to 2pm. In lieu of flowers we are kindly asking that memorial contributions be made in Dr. Hodge and Izzabella Marie Bondell’s honor to children’s kidney cancer. Please direct donations to wilmsfoundation.org in order to help build awareness and fund research of children’s kidney cancer. Arrangements have been entrusted to Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home and Oglethorpe Crematorium in Brunswick Georgia. www.edomillerandsons.com