Robert W. Rodriguez

Robert Wayne Rodriguez, 75, of East 86th Street, passed away at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital on December 2 after a period of declining health. Robert was born on February 6, 1950 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He was the beloved son of Ismael and Ena Rodriguez. They were both strong influences on his intellectual and spiritual life. In 1954, the family moved first to Verplanck, NY and then to Peekskill, NY. Robert was an altar boy and an avid reader and thinker. A serious bout with rheumatic fever when he was at 13 years old, did not stop him from pursuing his goals. After graduating from Stepanic High School in 1967, he entered Fordham University. There, he joined ROTC as a member of the elite Pershing Rifles. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant at the time of his graduation from Fordham University in 1971. After graduation he began work as a case aid in the social work field like his father. He began his military commitment and was stationed in Atlanta, GA where he attended Airborne Army Ranger Infantry school at Fort Benning, GA. Robert’s tours included the Honor Guard at Arlington National Cemetery, South Korea, and Fort Carson, Colorado. Prior to leaving the military as a Lieutenant Colonel, he attended the rigorous Army War College. He left the military to pursue his Masters in Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School. In 1989 he married Jeanne Hickey. He retained his links to the military as a member of the NY National Guard where he was assigned to the Park Avenue Armory. Robert completed his Juris Doctor at Columbia University. He worked as an attorney for Lovell Stewart Halebian until he received an appointment as Principal to the Under Secretary of Manpower at the Pentagon in 2007. At the end of his appointment he returned to Lovell Stewart where he continued to practice. The military was intrinsic to him and he continued his affiliation as a member of Veterans of the 42nd Division. Even after many struggles in his life, Robert was a romantic at heart, and “Casablanca” was one of his favorite movies. He also enjoyed watching “Jeopardy" and had developed his cooking skills. Crab cakes were his star product. His sister Myrna, was at his bedside when he passed into the great goodnight. His memory is a blessing to his wife, Jeanne, six surviving siblings, Myrna, Gilda (Fletcher), Mary Catherine (Vincent), Gerard, Christopher, and Johanna (James), and his 6 nieces and nephews, Michael, Danielle, Jenna, Claire, Maggie, and Matthew. Through marriage he also has 3 nieces, 1 nephew and 7 grandnephews/nieces.

A visitation will be held at Walter B. Cooke Funeral Home, located at 352 East 87th Street, New York, NY 10128, on December 7, 2025, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

The funeral service will take place at St Joseph's Church, 404 E 87th St, New York, NY 10128, on December 8, 2025, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.