Manuel Rodriguez Jr.

Manuel Rodriguez, Jr. 65, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. He was born in Houston, Texas on September 08,1951 to Manuel Rodriguez, Sr. and Maria Silva Rodriguez. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Virginia Rodriguez and their four children and their spouses, Regina and Raul Cantu, Anthony and Melissa Rodriguez, Angelina and Lupe Perez, Andrea and Marcellos Seale. He is also survived by his siblings and their spouses Victor and Patricia Rodriguez, Martha and Joe Moravek, Hilda Sabillon, and Linda Lopez. He also leaves behind his 7 cherished grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In his early childhood, Manuel lived in the inner city of Southeast Houston attending Franklin Elementary school until his family moved to Denver Harbor. He continued on at McReynolds Middle school and then later graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School where he met his future wife, Virginia. Throughout his years at Austin High School, Manuel held several officer positions such as Latin American Club President, International Club Vice President and Coral Yearbook Sports Editor, while also actively participating in a variety of clubs such as Booster Club, Spanish Club, Junior Achievement, Rolling Ponies, Art Club, Medical Careers(which he only joined to be with his sweetheart, Virginia) and was the Master of Ceremonies for the Coral Beauty Contest his Senior year. Sports were not sidelined as Manuel also played Intramural Football and Track, Shot-Put and Coed Volleyball.

After graduating in January of 1970 and working as a digital computer operator, Manuel made the decision to serve his beloved country by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force and that same year he left to boot camp at Lackland Air Force Base. In early 1973, after marrying Virginia, his high school sweetheart, he fulfilled his lifelong dream and received his orders to serve his country in Wiesbaden, Germany; which was a perfect opportunity to put to use the 2 years of German he learned in high school. Manuel remained just as active and committed to his culture in Germany as he was in high school by joining the Latinos Unidos Folklorico Dance group and then serving as their president in 1975. Later that same year and while still in Germany, Manuel and Virginia were blessed with the birth of their first baby girl, Regina Marie. He and Virginia entertained both their parents and other family members while in Germany to visit with the first grandchild on both sides of their family. Manuel was always committed to his family and took great pride in showing as many family members who could visit all the beautiful countryside he and his new little family had enjoyed for the past few years.

By this time Manuel’s four year commitment was complete, however he decided to continue his service and re-enlisted. He was reassigned to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California and returned to the U.S. during Bicentennial year in 1976 at JFK airport. Being the family man that he was, Manuel decided to drive straight from JFK to Houston to visit with all of his and Virginia’s family before heading to California where they settled in Vacaville, CA. Manuel was a Supply System’s Specialist for the U.S. Air Force, but while in California he also attended Solano Community College, managed an 8-apartment complex and worked as a maintenance man at City Hall. It wasn’t too long before Manuel and Virginia were blessed a second time and now proud parents of their only baby boy, Anthony Louis.

Then in the Fall of 1977, Manuel was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force and decided to return to Houston to raise his children close to their grandparents and the rest of their family. He and Virginia quickly found their perfect home in Pecan Park and settled in the house they have lived in for the past 40 years. Manuel’s 6 years of service were during the Vietnam Era and his dedication to his country and commitment to excellence earned him the Air Force Longevity Service Award and the Air Force Good Conduct Award. He was now a proud veteran and ready to continue his service as a community leader. He and Virginia soon joined Club Ver de Mar which was a Hispanic, family oriented social club that held fundraisers and annual dances where scholarships were awarded. Manuel served as president as well as other positions, and helped promote cultural pride by entering beautifully decorated floats by members of the club in the Fiestas Patrias Parades.

As Manuel’s dedication to his country, community and culture grew, so did his family. In 1984, Angelina Christine was joyfully welcomed into the family and then 3 years later, their precious baby girl, Andrea Marlena, was born. Family was always first priority for Manuel and being an involved parent was not an option. He was an active member in the parent organizations throughout all of his children's schooling, he was at every school event his children participated in and made sure all their teachers new they could count on his support. But, this was not enough for Manuel, he also felt called to insure the community his family lived in and especially the children had every opportunity available to allow them to become well educated, well rounded contributing citizens to society. Manuel spent many days on his own time knocking on doors of the homes of children who had dropped out of school. He shared with parents he had never met and their children the importance of an education and the value of the public school system that was at their disposal and encouraged them to continue and complete their schooling. Manuel not only helped many return to school and graduate, but searched out programs to help keep children in school, continue their education after high school and enter careers that were not usually sought after by the Hispanic community. If the program didn’t exist to fulfill this need, well he took it upon himself to create it! And so began the start of his journey as a public servant to become an HISD Trustee with the formation and commitment he had to these organizations:

East End Collation of Concerned Parents Founder - 1988

Houstonians for Public Education Founding Member - 1992

PPS - Houston Chapter President 2000, founding member - 1997

Parents for Public Schools (PPS) National Board - 2000 - 2005

Texas Parent PAC Founding Member - 2005 - 2010

MEAD Group Founding Chairman - 2009

SER Jobs for Progress: Board Member - 2007 - 2011

National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) - 2004-2013

Houston Director for MASBA - 2005 - 2013

Mexican American School Board Association (MASBA) President - 2010

Gathering of Eagles Texas Bay Area - 2007 - 2017

Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Houston Director - 2008 - 2011

HISD Board Trustee Dist. III - 2003 - 2017

Manuel was a lifelong public servant who, alongside all of his involvement with the schools, he worked as a community-relations specialist for the City of Houston and was the founder of MAARVA Corp., which provides assistance in education, housing, and community involvement. He was elected to the Houston Independent School District Board of Education in 2003 and held every office, including assistant secretary, second vice president, first vice president, and in 2016, president. As an elected representative for District III of the HISD Board of Education, he represented both the parents and the children’s best interest. He stood strong and did not fold at the pressures of special interest, other elected officials, or the wishes of other organizations. As many heard him say time and time again, “The Children Come First”.

Manuel’s family is comforted with knowing that his dedication, drive and commitment to the programs he set forth will continue on through his trusted and valued friends and colleagues he left behind to build on his legacy. As big a man that Manuel was, his heart and visions for the children of the future were greater than anyone could imagine. He always saw the potential in everyone he met. Manuel was a servant through and through and it was with his immense love of God and family that his passion for his community and country was felt by so many. He will be forever missed, but never forgotten!

Services for Manuel at Crespo Funeral Home-Broadway, 4136 Broadway St., Houston, TX 77087 will begin on Thursday, August 3rd, 2017, with visitation beginning at 5pm. Testimonials from family and friends will start at 6pm with the Post Everlasting ceremony presented by the American Legion Color Guard of 472 with the rosary following at 8pm. The funeral service on Friday, August 4th, 2017, will begin with mass at 10am at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church, 8150 Park Place Blvd., Houston, TX 77017 with procession immediately following for a committal service from 12:30 - 1pm at the Houston National Cemetery located at 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX, 77038.

Manuel Rodriguez, Jr.’s legacy lives on not only in our communities and schools, but in the lives of others that were touched by his never ending generosity as an organ donor. We as a family are following his example and ask that you consider doing the same by offering such a precious gift of continued life.

Manuel was a strong force in implementing Fine Arts and S.T.E.M.(Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) programs in HISD which in the near future will combine to form S.T.E.A.M. In lieu of flowers a scholarship fund has been established and at the request of the family please contribute to the Manuel Rodriguez, Jr. S.T.E.A.M. on to Lead and Inspire Memorial Scholarship Fund. For further information, send inquiries to his eldest daughter, Regina Cantu at [email protected].