Rodriguez, Gonzalo (Gonzalo Rodriguez)

Gonzalo Rodriguez passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at 71 years of age. He was born on July 23rd, 1950, in Oriente, Cuba. He migrated with his mother, father, and brothers to the United States at 10 years old. The second of five brothers, he grew up in Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

A sharp entrepreneur, Gonzalo started multiple businesses ranging from manufacturing to transportation. He was driven, determined, and dedicated, which helped him succeed professionally.

Gonzalo was kind, funny, curious, and affable. He was a pizza lover and master pancake maker. He was loved by his family, and friends. He was dear to his neighbors for his compassion, admired by his acquaintances for his happy, personable, and approachable demeanor.

As the Pastor of Riverdale Community Church, he was a spiritual leader, father, friend and mentor for his flock and anyone who needed it. Gonzalo’s magnetic personality and generosity of spirit will make him hard to be forgotten and he will always be missed.

He is survived by his loving wife of 24 years, Ana Rodriguez; his children Cristina and husband Stephen McCarthy, Pamela Rodriguez Evans and husband Joshua Evans, his son Gonzalo Quintanilla; his stepchildren Raquel and partner John Fernandez, Josue and wife Ilona Steele, Carolyn Martinez and husband Wilfredo Soriano; his grandchildren Matthew Martinez, Chloe McCarthy, Isabel Martinez, Judah McCarthy, and Miles Martinez. He was predeceased by his father Lorenzo in 1982, and his mother Raquel in 2019.

He will be dearly missed by his brothers Lorenzo, Roberto, Gustavo and Carlos Rodríguez and his extended family and friends.

A funeral service is planned for Friday, June 3rd, 2022, at Williams funeral 5628 Broadway between W. 232 & W. 233 Streets. His burial will be Saturday June 4th at Hackensack Cemetery (meeting point: Williams funeral home to depart at 9am)