Robert "Bobby" Karl Rodrigez

RODRIGEZ, Robert Karl "Bobby," died Friday, May 27, 2011, at the age of 75. Bobby was born in New York City November 22, 1935, to P. Joseph and Martha Rodrigez and was raised in Tampa. Bobby graduated from Jesuit High School in 1954, and then attended Juilliard School of Music in New York City to pursue his passion for dance and launch his career in show business. During his career, he performed in numerous broadway shows, movie musicals and Las Vegas Reviews, including West Side Story, Music Man and both the Broadway and film versions of Lil Abner. Later, he started in his own night club act, which toured throughout Europe and the Middle East. While touring, he met his wife, Sandy, and after a successful career in show business, they settled in Tampa to open the Karl and DiMarco School of Theatre and Dance with the hope of passing their love for the arts on to a new generation. Bobby is survived by his wife, Sandy DiMarco Rodrigez; his son, Robert Rodrigez Jr.; and his sisters, Greta Aldene and Judy Linn. Pallbearers are Joseph Greco, Frank Greco Sr., Joseph Greco Jr., John Paglino, Joe Murdoch, Larry Rodriguez, Jay Dominguez, Frank Hurlburt, Tommy Hobson and Paul Sickmon. Honorary pallbearers are Barry DiMarco, Nicholas DiMarco, Simon Bradford and the Jesuit Class of 1954. Family and friends will gather at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 2, at Marsicano-B.Marion Reed-Stowers Funeral Home on Henderson Boulevard. Services will take place at 1 p.m. followed by internment at Garden of Memories. In lieu of flowers, please donate to TGH hospice organization and Lifelink Kidney Foundation .