Enrique Rodriguez

Whoever was lucky enough to meet Enrique Rodriguez met someone who meant the world to his friends and family. Among his family, friends and employees he inspired fierce loyalty. That loyalty came from his tremendous generosity helping people in their personal and financial struggles. His family remember him as a loving man; a gregarious "hijo de la buena vida", who flew airplanes, played the trumpet, rode motorcycles, and told off-color jokes. To family and friends who knew him best, Enrique was truly, and will be remembered as an exceptional husband, father and friend.

The son of Nazario Rodriguez and Migdalia Cantillo Rodriguez, Enrique was raised with two siblings: one older brother, Gabriel, and one younger brother, Ernesto. Their brotherly bonds were ultimately strengthened by the political turmoil in Cuba, which separated them for years before the family was reunited in the United States. Unlike his brothers, who started careers in the energy business, Enrique focused on becoming an entrepreneur.

On December 26,1980 Enrique married the love of his life, Yolanda Barroso. Together they started multiple successful businesses, beginning with their first restaurant, Jolly Tamale, and progressing to various endeavors throughout the years, including six taquerias, a donut shop, a sandwich shop and a laundromat.

Enrique is survived by his wife, Yolanda, and five children, including two children from his previous marriage, Alex and Evelyn, as well as son Richard, and daughters, Melissa and Christina. He also had 12 grandchildren: James, Henry, Joseph, Isaiah, Jacob, Isabel, Steven, Elizabeth, Emma, Abigail, Penelope and Liam; and one great grandson, Nova.

Enrique was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by his family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Enrique leaves behind him a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life he touched will always remember Henry.

P.S. "What do you call a Mexican in a Chinese Restaurant? ....A JuanTan."

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Enrique “Henry” Rodriguez was born September 16, 1953, to Nazario and Migdalia Rodriguez in Santiago de Cuba. He was raised with two siblings, one older brother, Gabriel, and one younger brother, Ernesto. At the tender age of 14 he was abruptly separated from his family to escape the Castro military regime and left Cuba for Spain where he lived with distant relatives. Enrique found his way to New York in the late 1960’s where he once again had to start a new life and find his path. Being a Cuban adolescent immigrant in New York in the 1970’s, alone without family, was not for the faint of heart, but this was the genesis of Enrique’s more formative years where he developed and learned some of his core traits, including resilience, hard work, adaptability, perseverance, and how far his uncanny charm could take him. Enrique eventually moved to Orange, California where he settled in, reunited with family, and began to build his permanent home and family.

On December 26th, 1980, Enrique married the love of his life, Yolanda Barroso. Enrique and Yolanda met at a local factory where they worked during their late 20’s. Over the years, they built an amazing family and community of friends, multiple successful businesses, and lived the American dream. Through pure grit, stubbornness, and charm, with the support of his wife and family, Enrique persevered failed business after failed business, until he finally caught his break. Always a visionary and looking forward, Enrique expanded his businesses to include a chain of Taqueria restaurants, sandwich and donut shops, multiple real estate properties, a car collection, boats and motorcycles, and various other investments. But just as much and quickly as he earned, he would give away – generous donations to church, local charities, schools, sponsorships, and family and friends in need of a helping hand, without condition.

Enrique lived life like it is meant to be lived – inspired, fearless, and loyal. Whomever was fortunate enough to have met Enrique immediately knew they were in the presence of someone unabashedly unique. Amongst his family, friends, and employees he inspired unwavering loyalty. That loyalty came from his tremendous generosity helping people in their personal and financial struggles. His family remembers him as a loving man, a gregarious "hijo de la buena vida", who flew airplanes, played the trumpet, rode motorcycles, and told off-color jokes. He enjoyed all that life had to offer and repeatedly went out of his way to support family and friends. Enrique leaves behind a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. To family and friends who knew him best, Enrique was truly, and will be remembered as, an exceptional husband, father, and friend.

Enrique is survived by his wife, Yolanda, and five children, including two children from his previous marriage, Alex and Evelyn, as well as son Richard, and daughters, Melissa and Christina. He also had 12 grandchildren: James, Henry, Joseph, Isaiah, Jacob, Isabel, Steven, Elizabeth, Abigail, Emma, Liam, and Penelope, and one great grandson, Nova.

A visitation for Enrique Rodriguez will be held Saturday, July 22, 2023, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM at Fairhaven Memorial Park Mortuary, located at 1702 Fairhaven Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705, immediately followed by a funeral service from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. A graveside service will occur Saturday, July 22, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, located at 7845 Santiago Canyon Road, Orange, CA 92869.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.fairhavenmemorial.com for the Rodriguez family.