Cw03 Emilio Rodriguez Us Army

Mr. Rodriguez is survived by his wife of 66 years, Maria Luisa Roche; sons, Emilio and his wife Ana M., of Houston, TX; Glenn and his wife Debbie, of Louisville, KY; daughter, Belinda Vazquez and her husband Jaime, of San Antonio; 9 grandchildren: Shayla and Javier Bell, Alysha and Michael Emery, Jarit and Jason Macias, Carmen Luisa and James Cripps, Glendali and Turner Rodriguez, Zamara and Levi Johnson, Lymari and Scott Ames, Nicole Vazquez and Jaime Emilio Vazquez; and 9 great-Grandchildren: Devin Emilio Bell, Jadyn Mariana Bell, Chyann Alyss Mercedes Williams, Michael Champ Emery, Rubn Turner Rodriguez, Gabriel Cripps, Olevir Rodriguez Johnson, Emilio Jaime Ames, Patrick Scott Ames, along with many family members in Puerto Rico.

Emilio entered the National Guard in Puerto Rico in 1940, and later served in the US Army until his retirement from active duty in 1965. He was the first Puerto Rican US Army Bandmaster, and was a veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He had the distinction of playing for world leaders such as President Charles DeGaulle in 1958, and meeting and playing for President John F. Kennedy in Pierre, S.D. in 1962. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Music from the Chicago Conservatory of Music in 1956.

After his retirement, he went on to become a widely known composer and arranger of music. Emilio was band leader for several ensembles in PR, and while he played many instruments, he was a gifted trumpet player. His original compositions include "El Jibarito Va," "Lleg Navidad Compay," and "The Calypso Man," which became a most popular song in Puerto Rico as interpreted by Pepito Torres and his Siboney Band. He lived in the Santa Rosa neighborhood of Bayamn, until 2006 when he relocated to San Antonio. He entertained wherever he could, including playing casual music for retirees and veterans at Ft Buchannan and the Veterans Hospital in San Juan, and most recently at the St. John Neuman Catholic Church and his home in Esplanade Gardens in Converse, TX.

His life was rich with experiences that he shared with others with enthusiasm. He instilled in his family a love of God and country, and respect for family and education, leaving a legacy of service to others, humility and courage. He set a personal example for all, having been raised as an orphan to live a productive and full life. He passed his musical legacy to his family, where family gatherings always consist of music, laughter, and Puerto Rican food. His many grandchildren and great-grandchildren will carry memories of their Abuelito as a charismatic, dynamic and impactful person.