Web Support & Usability honors slain student employee

From a pet-friendly fundraiser to a uniquely decorated donation for an auction, the Web Support & Usability (WSU) team in UIT University Support Services (USS) is finding ways to grieve and honor student employee Maxwell William Rodgers, who was killed by a disgruntled neighbor on November 16, 2024. Rodgers, 21, had celebrated his birthday the day before.

The University of Utah junior, who studied games development, worked part-time as a web development intern for the WSU team, led by Director Barb Iannucci. He joined the team in January 2023, helping Senior Web Software Developer Shellie Eide develop custom database web applications.

“Max was an amazing, intelligent, quirky, and kind person. He thoroughly enjoyed digging into new projects, and I could always count on him to come up with a creative solution to any problem I threw his way,” Eide said. “It was particularly great to see that little sparkle in his eye whenever he solved a problem that he had been struggling with. His stories about Goblin (his cat) and the trials and failures of his aquatic pursuits always made me chuckle.”

For Giving Tuesday (December 3), Eide helped organize a fundraiser to honor Rodgers and his “profound love for animals.” Rodgers owned a cat and dog, raised technicolor shrimp, and often visited the humane society to pet cats. She said his obituary requested donations to no-kill shelters, so the Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) organization’s morale committee asked for contributions to Best Friends Animal Society. Together, DCIO staff raised $700.

From December 4-7 that week, thousands of Festival of Trees attendees viewed the entry that Website Services Program Manager Emily Jacoby and her family decorated and donated in honor of Rodgers. 

“Going to the Festival of Trees has been a family tradition for my mom and me since I was a little kid, but this year marked our second time decorating and donating a tree for it,” Jacoby said. “Our theme, ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas,’ seemed so fitting. Like the movie, Max was such a unique, kind, and giving person. Donating a tree in his name became a way for me to honor him and, in a way, helped me process some of my own grief over his tragic passing.”

The tree, which raised $1,750 at auction for Primary Children’s Hospital, featured “The Nightmare Before Christmas”-themed ribbons, ornaments, board games, books, collectible items, character plushies, and a wall hanging Jacoby’s mom sewed that says “Christmas Town.”

Rodgers still has a presence at the office. The “Max” Funko Pop figure the WSU team designed for his birthday and a “wanted” poster for “Max the Marauder” that Jacoby created for Halloween sit atop his desk. And he’s often in their thoughts.

“Max was an integral part of our team, not just through his hard work and dedication, but through his kind spirit and uplifting presence. He left a lasting impact on our projects and workplace culture, while his sense of humor brought us countless laughs and smiles,” Iannucci said. “We are heartbroken by his tragic loss and will carry his memory with us always.”

The Rodgers family said they are grateful to all the UIT colleagues and friends who have honored Max. 

“He brought so much joy to our family and was an incredible, hardworking, quirky, kind, and, above all, amazing person,” the family said in a statement to UIT. “Our hearts are heavy but so grateful that he had people like you all to work alongside with. We miss him greatly and hope that he had as big of an impact on your lives as he did ours.”

 

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