The formal obituary for former Nickel Belt MP and Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez has been posted on Lougheed Funeral Home's website.
It says Rodriguez, 80, passed away peacefully Wednesday at home with his family at his side.
“It is with heavy hearts that the Rodriguez family announces the death of its patriarch, John Rodriguez,” the obit reads. “Like so many, John came to Canada in search of a better life. He embraced this country, its history and everything it stood for.
“Through his various careers as a teacher and politician, and also as a community volunteer and activist, John worked tirelessly to improve the human condition and to encourage others to reach their full potential.”
He came to Canada from British Guyana at 18, not knowing anyone and with $50 in his pocket.
“From there, he built a family, a life and a legacy,” the obit says.
He loved spending time with his wife, Bertilla, watching theatre at “Stratford and Niagara-on-the-Lake, gardening, and watching classic movies and the Blue Jays games.
“He enjoyed the annual family fishing trips with his sons (though he never did catch much!),” it said. “Another great passion of John’s was horse racing and he spent many evenings at Sudbury Downs, beating the program against his hand and cheering his horses home.
“The family will always remember their epic adventure to Italy in 2013 with 16 family members, great food, much wine, and endless laughter.”
It also a lists a couple of quotes that he lived by, including one from his favourite novel, Jonathan Livingston Seagull:
“You have the freedom to be yourself, your true self, here and now, and nothing can stand in your way.”
And he lived his life according to this quote from poet Robert Frost:
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.”
Rodriguez is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Bertilla (Bobbato) and his five sons, Damian (Sheryl), Brendan (Mary Perry), Derek, Declan (Mary), and Emlyn. Proud grandfather (Nonno) to his grandchildren Jared, Kennedy, Macy Grace, Jannah (Curtis), Holly and Violet, and dear great-grandfather to Kaiah and Murphie.
He was predeceased by his parents Gloria and Clement Rodrigues and is survived by his sister, Anne, of Mississauga (daughter Anne Marie), and his sister-in-law, Jane Rodrigues of Coniston (children Matthew and Sara).
He will also be fondly remembered by special family friends Janet Lovelady and Kyle Beaudry, as well as his many students, and the staff and colleagues with whom he had the pleasure to work.
Resting at the Lougheed Funeral Home, 252 Regent St. at Hazel Street, on Monday, July 10th from 2 -5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., with parish prayers at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Funeral Mass in St. Patrick’s Church, 39 Walford Rd., Sudbury, will take place on Tuesday, July 11th at 10 a.m.
He chose cremation with interment in the family plot at the Park Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. David School ‘John Rodriguez Bursary Fund’ are welcomed and appreciated.
