Rod earned a Bachelor of Music from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan. and a Master of Music in Voice Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He did post-graduate voice training with Oren L. Brown. He was an active vocal performer and voice teacher for many years in New England, New York City and elsewhere, teaching at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst College and privately. He was organist and choir director at First Congregational from late 1997 until his retirement in 2007. Mr. Gisick served as Subdean of the Springfield Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and was active with the National Association of Teachers of Singing. He was a certified Master Gardener, landscape designer and writer.