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Honoring and remembering “El Catano”
With love and gratitude, we remember Rodrigo, “El Catano,” a devoted husband, brother,
father, and grandfather. His infectious laughter, warm heart, and quick wit brightened the lives
of all who knew him.
Rodrigo’s generosity and care for others were evident in everything he
did, from making and sharing meals with his family to his constant and unwavering support of
those he loved.
Rodrigo had a deep love for his family, and his life was full of joyful moments. Each grandchild
will forever treasure his French Toast on the weekends. He dedicated a significant amount of
time to making each piece special and always offered more than you could eat.
Rodrigo was known for his love for food, especially “chicharrones” and meat cooked in any
style, accompanied by rice. He would enjoy and savor all the traditional Colombian food and
make sure others did the same. If you didn’t clean your plate, he’d be sure to say, “You need to
eat better if you want to grow, or you will be short like me.”
He loved watching Colombian soccer games and cheered for his favorite team, Deportivo Cali.
We fondly remembered his “durmiendo las noticias” moments when he’d doze off while
watching the news, and somehow he managed to stay connected to the latest news and
politics. Rodrigo was the ultimate family man, working hard to give his family a good life, even
if that meant having two or three jobs at a time.
Rodrigo was a hard-working and active man. He’d leave to work before the sun came up and
sometimes come home when it was dark. Yet he still made time for everyone, be it kicking
around a soccer ball, taking care of the yard every day, going to grandkids' plays or
performances, graduations of all kinds, or staying up until after midnight every year for
Christmas and New Year’s. Rodrigo lived a full life.
We also remember how each Valentine’s Day, he would get Grandma a bouquet of beautiful
red roses—a testament to their incredible 64-year journey together. Their love and relationship
stand as an enduring example of a true partnership and what it means to build a strong family
to all who knew them.
In his later years, he faced the challenges of Parkinson’s disease. Despite his declining health,
his strong spirit and personality never wavered. He was always making a funny comment or
giving sage advice. His faith in God and his love for his family were with him until his last
moment. In honor of his memory, we are supporting the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is
dedicated to advancing research for Parkinson’s disease.
We invite you to join us in honoring “el catano” by donating to help fund efforts to find better
treatments and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s. Your support will make a difference for those
living with this disease and their families.