Long time San Jose resident, Robert Rodriguez, 71, passed away on October 5, 2019. Robert was surrounded by his family at the Veteran's hospital in Palo Alto.

Robert was born on May 4, 1948 in San Antonio, Texas to Felipe and Gregoria Rodriguez. Robert was the fifth of seven children. His childhood was spent traveling throughout the states as his parents were agricultural workers and they followed the crops. The family would eventually settle in California and put down roots in Gilroy. As a young man, Robert always wanted to join the Army and be a soldier. When the war came, he happily enlisted and joined the war efforts. While on leave during his term, Robert would come back home to meet the most beautiful woman he would ever lay eyes on. He knew instantly that this was the woman he would marry. After returning home from overseas, Robert found Maria, and they were married in the Mission at San Juan Bautista-this is also the same place they would later baptize their first born child.

Robert would eventually move his family to San Jose and have four children. He became very interested in the law and studied Labor Law. He would become a paralegal and worked tirelessly to help the underrepresented. He believed the world should be a better place, even though it often was not.

Robert loved to travel and do new things. He loved wine tasting, going to the beach, listening to oldies, and sitting around a campfire laughing and looking at the stars. He was an avid dog lover and would even cook his dogs special meals. He kept birds and chickens and cared for them like family. During his retirement he began researching his Ancestry and was so excited to find valuable information about his ancestors as well as many long lost cousins.

Robert will be missed greatly by all who loved him. He is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Maria Esther Rodriguez; his siblings Henry, Etna, and Irma; his children Lorena and Juan (Cardenas), Ricardo and Salina, Roberto jr. and Patricia,  Jacqueline and Apollo (Pedroza), and Sylvia and Dieter (Schweininger). Robert was blessed with so so many grandchildren: Pete Alexander, Amber, Julian, Jackson, Priscilla, Ricky, Jacob, Melisenda, Ahna, Emmi, Apollo Jr, Dorian, Kristin, Vuan, and Brenna.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at Habing Family Funeral Home from  1:00 PM to 9:00 PM with a Vigil Service at 5:00 PM.

Funeral Mass will be Friday, October 18, 2019 at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 10:00 AM followed by burial at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.