Luis Rodriguez

Luis C Rodriguez, a longtime resident of Irvington, passed away at the age of 75, surrounded by his loving wife and family.

Lui, as he was known to everyone, will be re-united with his cherished mother and father, who passed away in 2019 and 1990 respectively. Lui was born in La Facha, Spain in 1949 to Maria and Gilberto Rodriguez. His parents wanted a better life filled with more opportunities for their son. So they emigrated to my mother’s beloved birthplace, the United States of America, in 1952. Luis was 2 ½ years old at the time. They lived on Long Island for a short time before moving to New Jersey and eventually settling in Irvington.

He was truly a renaissance man-of-all-trades. He was a skilled mason, carpenter, mechanic, chef and electrician. If he could not fix something, then it probably was not broken. He was a true role model to his brother, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends on how to be a great husband, a great son and a proud patriot. Luis served his country honorably during the Vietnam War by joining the United Sates Air Force. But his greatest achievement, by far, was in marrying the love of his life, Valerie Dutkiewicz. Luis and Val met in 1972 and married in 1981. They shared 4 beautiful homes over the years and they loved each other more than anything in the world. And Luis was always fond of saying “I am nothing without Val”.

He is survived by his cherished and loving wife Valerie Rodriguez, his brother Gil Rodriguez, his wife Karen Rodriguez and their children Gilbert Luis his wife Michelle, Gina and Anthony, also by his cousins Lali and Armindo Mendes, their son Cesar, by his sister in law Patricia Barry, her son Ronald Soden, his wife Melissa, and many cousins, great-nieces and nephews, friends and extended family.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation for Luis at Galante Funeral Home in Union on Sunday, June 8 from 2:00 to 6:00pm. A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 9th 11:00am at the funeral home followed by his entombment in Hollywood Cemetery in Union.