Gilberto Rodriguez

Born on May 5th of 1951 in Arandas, Jalisco, a Cinco de Mayo baby and son of Jose Rodriguez Luna and Teresa Garnica Flores. He was raised not to far from his birth place in Guadalajara, Jalisco where he grew up with his 8 siblings or otherwise known as Los Rodriguez a last name that became known in the city as a group of stern brothers and sisters who fought through life for the very same principles that most of us do respect, honor, loyalty and dignity at all cost. Although many times they clashed with each other the evident brotherly love still always remained strong and everlasting. He began his personal maturity of life on his own at an early age of about 16 where he ventured off on his own from Jalisco to Tijuana Mx in search of work and one day possibly making it to the U.S. He lived there for several years working in a bakery and various shops to make ends meet and survive. His dream of crossing the border finally came true in the year of 1973 and he landed in the wonderful city of Long Beach, CA. He was determined to learn the English language and soon after fell right into the American Hippy times of the 70’s. we will never forget how he loved to let his hair grow and maintained an afro puff about the size of a beach ball. He also loved to wear his bellbottom pants and listen to Led Zepellin, Jimmy Hendricks and all those Rock stars of those times. He drove a 67 Mustang, stick shift with a swooped-up motor that you could hear coming from blocks away. Those pictures, sounds and visual memories are priceless to us. Soon after, he met my mother and started his family life in the same year of 1973. He was called “El Gori” among his friends which is short for Gorilla. A short, stocky, wide backed, hell of a man not to be messed with. He defined with a capital S the short man syndrome with the heart of lion and bravery like the best of men. He will always have sacred place in all our hearts and until we meet again may his soul now rest in peace. In Loving Memory of Gilberto Rodriguez. The Rodriguez Family!