Vincent Armando Rodriguez

“To fly west, my friend, is a flight we all must take for a final check.”

Vincent Armando Rodriguez died on November 9, 2019, surrounded by his friends and family, but throughout his life there was rarely a place he could go where he didn’t have friends, many who became family. Vince, Vinny, Uncle Vinny, Papa Vinny, and Papa were the names he collected throughout a distinguished life that started in Cienfuegos, Cuba on June 1, 1951, where his parents, Connie and Armando Rodriguez, joyfully welcomed their second of three children. At the age of two, his family immigrated to the United States and settled in Passaic, New Jersey. Vince spent his childhood playing with friends, attending local schools, and falling in love with all things mechanical, especially cars.

After graduating from Passaic High School, he attended the Newark College of Engineering (now the New Jersey Institute of Technology) where he graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and as an ROTC Distinguished Graduate. In 1973, Vince joined the United States Air Force, where he graduated pilot training with distinction and completed T-38 Instructor Training as the Top Graduate. He was stationed at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, and Williams Air Force Base in Arizona and rose to the rank of Captain.

In 1980, after serving his country, Vince became a commercial airline pilot with Eastern Airlines where he flew 727s and DC-9s. In 1990, Vince move to United Airlines where he flew 737s, 757s, and 767s before becoming an A320 Captain. Vince had a distinguished career at United, but he always said the best thing he got from it was his marriage to Arlene, a United flight attendant he met on one lucky flight. After 26 years at United and over 43 years flying, Vince retired in 2016 with over 20,000 flight hours.

After retirement, Vince enjoyed spending time with his wife and grandchildren, riding his motorcycle with friends on long trips throughout the country, and being around the many loved ones he accumulated throughout his life. He was a strong and confident person with an enormous heart who felt just as comfortable piloting jets and motorcycles as he did dancing with and having his hair done by his granddaughters. His home was always open to friends in need, be it for a few hours or months at a time. His generosity knew no bounds.

Vince’s life ended far too early when he succumbed to cancer. However, if the measure of a life is how many people remember you with love, Vince lived far beyond his years. In his last days, Vince’s home was flooded with a procession of family and friends from all over the country who wanted to say one last goodbye to a man who profoundly touched their lives. That procession could only be outdone by the countless others who sent their love and support to his family and friends from afar. This was an emotional and fitting goodbye to a man who gave so much love to the people in his life.

Vince is survived by his Mother, Concepcion; his Wife, Arlene; his daughter, Simchah (Seth); his granddaughters, Elaina and Shayna; his sisters, Gloria (Larry) and Diana; his nieces and nephews, Jennifer, John, Nicholas, Michael, and Kristy; and his Goddaughter, Maria. He was predeceased by his father, Armando.

A celebration of Vince’s life and his last flight west will be on Sunday, November 17, 2019 at 9:30 am at the Ritz-Carlton, 1 North Ft. Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304. The family requests pilots attend in uniform. Instead of flowers, the family requests that you donate to a veteran’s charity in Vince’s name, such as the LCpl Janos V Lutz Live To Tell Foundation or Operation Sacred Trust. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia with military honors at a date and time to be determined.