Born in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico the son of Demetrio and Flora Rodriguez. He held various jobs, however, worked for over ten years at the Belmont Racetrack as a maintenance worker until retirement in 2008.
He resided in East New York, Brooklyn for over 50 years on a block called Chestnut Street, where he was a constant staple to his local grocery store. Where he could be found every morning sitting on a crate, reading a newspaper and having his lite and sweet coffee and buttered roll. In the evening, the grocery store owner would play his favorite Latin music; Hector Lavoe, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Jonny Pacheco among many other favorites and types of music, back in- the- day he loved playing the congas (nothing like playing congas to the music in the background). When the music wasn’t playing, the owners of the store would put the sports channel on for him. They knew how much he loved watching sports; it didn’t matter the sport; he watched them all. His favorite was baseball, he was a dye hard Mets fan. - Let’s go Mets! Everyone in the neighborhood loved him, they called him “Peaches, Pops or Papi.”
Last year Peaches, had to leave his beloved Brooklyn. The house was sold, new owners were coming in and unfortunately, he had to move. He relocated to the Bronx. It was probably one of the saddest days of his life. He loved his apartment, met some real nice people, but it wasn't Brooklyn. He would miss his familiar grounds and his neighborhood family. Although Peaches spent the last year of his life in the Bronx, he never called the Bronx home.
He loved his family very much, especially his mother who passed in 2004. He wasn’t the type of relative or friend to call. However, he loved hearing from others especially, his siblings. He wasn’t a traveler, didn’t feel the need to leave the comforts of his surroundings to go in search for a new adventure. He was quite happy being a simple man enjoying his daily routine, at the corner bodega.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Demetrio and Flora Rodriguez, brother Carlos Munoz and brother Herman Rodriguez.
He is survived by his sisters, Claribel Valentin, Mirna Munoz, Gladys Munoz and his brothers, Roberto Rodriguez, Franklin Rodriguez and Louie Munoz. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, and extended family and friends who will miss him dearly.
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