by the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Rodney Mitchell, Jr., 65, passed away Wednesday (June 21), at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., after a short illness. Mitchell was born on April 10, 1952 in Dover, Del., son of the late Kathryn and Rodney Mitchell Sr.

He was a successful land developer and stable owner. Mitchell possessed a passion for horses and his stable was very active not only within the confines of his own state, but on the national level as he co-owned the 2007 Hambletonian Oaks winner, Danae (Andover-Hall-Deanella Hanover, $529,099) as well as the 2007 Breeders Crown winner in then 3-year-old filly pacer Artcotic (Artiscape-Pumped, $616,548).

Mitchell also was the recipient of the 2007 Barasch Memorial Breakthrough Award from the U.S. Harness Writers Association (USHWA) and was a staunch promoter of and fundraiser for the Harness Horse Youth Foundation.

In addition to his parents, Mitchell is preceded in death by his wife Teresa Mitchell, brother and sister-in-law James and Leslie Betts, and brother-in-law Bucky Sawyer.

He is survived by his daughter Kimberley Waite and her husband John and their children Chase M., Alexa J., and Lainey M. Waite; daughter Michelle L. Zerrad and her husband Kamal and their children Amina N., Jannah L., and Leila S. Zerrad; siblings Phillip Mitchell (Rogette Clarke), Kathy Davis (Eddie), Kenny Mitchell (Freida Ivory), Karen Sawyer and Marlyn Mobley (Michael); and many nieces and nephews.

In honoring Mitchell’s wishes, there will be no formal service and the family asks to simply remember him with a smile and a good deed by helping someone else. For those who wish to honor his love for horses with a gift in his memory to Horse Lovers United, P.O. Box 2744, Salisbury, Md., 21802.

Letters of condolences can be sent via www.pippinfuneralhome.com.