J. Louis Rodriguez

J. Louis Rodriguez, 92, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2013 at his home in Stamford, CT. Lou was born in New York City on September 8, 1920, attended George Washington High School and graduated from City College in New York with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. While at City College he ran on the cross country team and was a member of the ROTC program. He was a member of the Tau Beta Pi National Honorary Engineering Fraternity.

Lou served in World War II as a navigator on B17’s in the US Army Air Force operating out of England. On a mission over enemy territory, he was shot down and over a period of several weeks, he evaded capture and escaped to Switzerland. Following World War II, Louis served as a navigator for the Military Airlift Command in the Air Force Reserve operating out of Maguire Air Force Base in New Jersey and Dover Air Base in Delaware. During his time in the reserves, he flew airlift missions to Vietnam and retired from the Air Force as a Major on May 30, 1970, being awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. After his retirement from the Air Force, Lou remained an active participant in reunions of the 306th Bomb Group and a member of the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and the Air Force Escape & Evasion Society. In 1995, Lou was chosen to be the Grand Marshall for the Veterans Day Parade in Stamford, CT.

Lou was a civil engineer for Diamond International Corporation where he worked for 28 years, retiring in 1986 as Manager of Engineering at their corporate headquarters in New York City. During his time as Head of the Plant & Process Engineering Dept, he was responsible for the design, planning, and construction supervision of multi-million dollar manufacturing facilities. He was an active member of the North Stamford Exchange Club for many years, serving as its president from 1970-71 and was awarded it’s Man of the Year in 1989. Lou was a Fellow and Life Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a Life Member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and served as Past Chapter President and Past State Director of the Connecticut Society of Professional Engineers. Upon retiring from Diamond International, Lou continued service with them as a consultant until February 1988 after which he became self-employed as a licensed surveyor and sole owner of North Stamford Surveyors.

Lou grew up watching the NY Giants Baseball team and remained a loyal Mets fan throughout his life. He loved watching sports, playing golf, and spending time with his family. His surveying business kept him busy in retirement because of his reputation for the quality of his work and his dedication to the accuracy of his surveys.

Lou was predeceased by an older sister, Carmen Font, of Kissimmee, FL. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Rita Fradera Rodriguez of Stamford; an older sister, Inez Lull, of Springfield, MA; two daughters, Mrs. Carmen Brana of Casselberry, FL and Mrs. Christina McCarthy of Peterborough, Ontario; a son, Robert Rodriguez of Cornish, Maine; plus eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Friday May 3 from 4 to 6 pm at Leo Gallagher Funeral Home, 2900 Summer St., Stamford, CT. Funeral service will be on Saturday, May 4, at 10:30 am also at Leo Gallagher Funeral Home. There will be a burial service for family members at Willowbrook Cemetery in Westport following the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Vitas Hospice Care, 99 Hawley Lane, Suite 1204, Stratford, CT 06614 or to Long Ridge Fire Company, Attn. Chief, 366 Old Long Ridge Rd., Stamford, Ct 06903. To leave an online condolence please visit www.leopgallagherstamford.com