Friends and family gathered to say goodbye to former mayor and MP for Nickel Belt, John Rodriguez, on July 11.
Watch the video to hear from Sudburians who shared their fondest memories of Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was born in Georgetown, Guyana, and moved to Canada in 1956. He moved to Coniston in 1962, where he was appointed principal of St. Paul the Apostle School.
He ran federally for the New Democrats in 1972 in Nickel Belt, defeating Liberal Gaetan Serré. He held the seat until losing to Judy Erola in 1980, before reclaiming it in 1984 until 1993.
He returned to teaching after 1993, becoming principal of St. David School. In 2005, he tried unsuccessfully to fight forced retirement, before running and winning the mayoralty in 2006. He lost to Marianne Matichuk in 2010, and to Bigger in 2014.
After a long bout with a respiratory illness, Rodriguez passed away on July 5, 2017, at his home, with his family by his side. Rodriguez was 80 years old.
Books of condolences are available for the public to sign at Citizen Service Centres across the city.
