Maria Lourdes Rodriguez

Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador on February 11th 1956, Maria moved to New York City in 1974. She married Eddie Rodriguez in 1978 and had two children, Cindy and David. In 1984, she and her husband moved to Tampa where they raised their children and sent her daughter to Harvard College and Harvard Business School and her son to the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.

Starting as a seamstress in the Garment District of New York City at age 19, she later earned her associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Hostos Community College and her bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of South Florida.

She served as a Hillsborough County Spanish teacher for middle and high school students working at Memorial, Burnett, Buchanan, Jennings Middle Schools and Blake High School as well as a Pasco County Spanish teacher for Land O Lakes and Zephyrhills High Schools. Prior to becoming a teacher, she was a teacher’s aide at Belle Witter and Calhoun Elementary Schools, Adams Middle School as well as Wharton High School. She was a dedicated educator for 32 years who impacted thousands of students. In 2014, she was awarded the Ida S. Baker award at Buchanan Middle School.

She was very involved in her local church. As a member of Idlewild Baptist Church for 24 years, she volunteered as a seamstress for the Easter and Christmas presentations and as a Spanish teacher for future missionaries. She was also a dedicated prayer warrior for the Watchman on the Wall ministry.

She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Eddie, daughter Cindy, son-in-law Michael, son David, granddaughter, Annabella, her father Manuel and her sisters Mercedes (Washington), Beatriz, Felicia (Juan) and Julie.