Richard Rodriguez, Sr.

It has been said that “all the world’s a stage.” This particularly held true for Richard Rodriguez Sr. Indeed, he was one of the players. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a perpetual performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and was always willing to share that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Richard, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark, or the twinkle of an eye. Richard truly mastered the art of living and had great fun throughout his journey.

Richard first stepped onto the stage of life on February 7th,1947. He was born in San Antonio,Texas. He was the son of loving and caring parents,Victor and Juanita Rodriguez. Even as a child, it seemed as though he had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring, and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention and was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Always a good playmate, Richard was easygoing and fun-loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even in the middle of family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, he managed to find satisfying solutions to basic problems. He could see all sides of a dispute and managed to bring in his sense of humor whenever it was needed. He was raised with 4 siblings. Richard had one sister, Delores Church and three brothers, Victor Rodriguez, Rudy Rodriguez,and Johnny Rodriguez. There was always love,joy,and laughter between them. He was also close to some of his other relatives; Richards extended family included his son Rick and nephew Johnny. All of Richard's playful good nature carried over into his childhood. He had an outgoing personality, a lively imagination, and a rather laid back, go-with-the-flow approach to life. He was constantly on the go. As a result of this, he experienced a rather active childhood and this suited him very well. He also had a number of favorite pastimes as a child, including playing pool. Playing games was always a favorite way to spend time, in particular watching television.

Richard was drawn to both individuals and crowds. He frequently used his gregarious and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. Richard also went on a few trips when he was growing up.

Richard was a very easy person to approach, simply by being so emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate. Rita Ann Rodriguez learned this firsthand. Richard was at Mary Landing when he met Rita and asked her to dance.

He proposed to her in a Nissan truck under a full moon. The groomsmen was Clint Herbert and Peggy Herbert was the Maid of Honor. The service took place at Enchanted Chapel in Seattle, Washington. The service was officiated by Zady Evans. The reception was held in the backyard by the water with many friends. Fond memories of the reception included music, dancing,and the bbq.

He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings and that was especially true in marriage. In that way, he tried to bring joy and harmony to the household. Like most young couples, they lived rather modestly. Their first residence was a one bedroom house in Southpark. The household also included some pets, namely their dog Lucy.

Richard seemed to have an endless appetite for new activities. A generous person who often wore his heart on his sleeve, he often found himself involved in activities that he felt were important. He was charitable, kind, and giving, qualities that made him a natural volunteer. Outspoken in his beliefs, yet tactful in his dealings with others, he was a member of several community groups. He was also involved in the Eagles Club playing bingo. Richard had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Richard's service was greatly valued by the organization to which he belonged.

Perhaps the reason Richard related so well to youngsters was the fact that he was always a kid at heart himself. This quality helped him in raising his own family. It was as if he remembered the way it felt to play and have fun as a child and so he tried to keep that feeling alive in his own family. He had three children, Richard Rodriguez Jr.,Jose Martin Rodriguez, Christina Marie Rodriguez. The children would often fill him with pride. He also tried to raise the children in a safe and nurturing environment, filled with fun and wonder. Richard had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with his children, that is where all of his attention was directed. He could spend hours engaging them with fun and creative play. In fact, Richard had a knack for turning some of those nasty old household chores into fun and playful games.

He tried his best to be a good parent. Richard also carried over the fun into family trips and vacations.

At work, as in life, Richard was a real "people person." He had a very successful way of working effectively with others and his enthusiasm and energy were often contagious. When dealing with various projects and problems, Richard was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the best option. Being a down-to-earth thinker allowed many to see him as an excellent problem-solver. His primary occupation was working as and Asphalt Raker. He worked for Watson Asphalt Raker.

Richard made a number of new friends in the workplace, due to his outgoing personality. Some of them included Terry West, Kenny,Willy, Ted,and Bill. Richard liked to give Terry a bad time about walking on the asphalt.

Richard managed to wrap himself up in all sorts of activities during his career.

Richard enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He was the kind of person who liked creating things. One of his favorite pastimes as an adult was shooting pool.

Richard developed a number of favorite things throughout his life. He loved the summer. His favorite colors were black and gray. When it came to food, Richard particularly liked Taco's, Mandolo, and Menudo.

For Richard, reading was always enjoyable, especially National Geographic magazine. Sitting down and watching a movie or television show was always something he enjoyed. Richards favorite shows included "NCIS", "Menalist", "Perry Mason'. His favortie music was the Fat Domonies and Freddy Fendy oldies.

Richard felt excited and challenged by sports. Even those times when he may not have been the best, he loved to participate. He thoroughly enjoyed the competition as well as the pleasure of being around other people. He relished any opportunities in which he could make an impact. In fact, it was not uncommon for him to push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, he never seemed to get caught off guard. Even when confronted by the unexpected he was able to react and often succeed, thinking quickly on his feet. He loved to participate in poker and playing pool. He also enjoyed watching his favorite teams and events whenever he got the opportunity.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Richard recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was of Catholic faith.

Richard believed that you had to experience life to its fullest and his life in retirement was no different. The day to retire finally arrived in 1997. Like most things in his life, he took it in stride as one more way to have fun. He retired from Local 440 Union. With his boundless energy, he remained busy with people and projects. Not only did Richard stay in touch with old friends, he befriended plenty of new people as well. Some of these new friends included Terry, Kenny,Willy, Tom,and Ray. Pets were still part of his life in retirement as was evident with his relationship with Bacio, his dog and Gracie,his cat. He loved singing to Gracie the cat.

Richard Rodriguez left us on May 17th, 2011. He passed away At Highline Hospital. He was 64 years old. He was preceded in death by his wife, son,daughter, brothers, and sister. He is survived by his wife and children. Richard will be laid to rest at Riverton Crest Cemetery.

Richard was always sharing a good laugh and bringing joy to all of those around him. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and a zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Richard Rodriguez Sr. lived life to its fullest and made everyone happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.