Obituary of Mario R. Rodriguez

Rodriguez, Mario R. Penfield: April 29, 2013 peacefully and surrounded by loving family after a courageous battle with an extended illness. Mario was predeceased by his parents Mario E. and Carmen Rodriguez, brother Louis Sariego, sister Carmen Bastidas, and son Mario R. Rodriguez, Jr. Survived by his beloved and devoted wife Judith (Berti); daughters Mary Jane Harris (Guy), Carmen Rodriguez (Eileen), and Elizabeth A. Rodriguez; sons Randall Hughes (Deanna) and D. Scott Collins (Chere); grandchildren Jenean Kirby (Nolan), James Snider, Melissa Davis (Brian), Michael Rodriguez, Marcus Rodriguez, Jonathan Rodriguez, Brittani, Ashley, and Allison Hughes, Lauren and Audrey Collins; seven great-grandchildren; brothers Joseph (Barbara), Robert (Dorothy), and Albert (Jean); numerous nieces and nephews; as well as countless cherished friends. A native of Camden, NJ where he was elected as Councilman-at-Large for the City of Camden; following his second term, he was appointed by Governor William Cahill to serve as Commissioner of Civil Rights for the State of NJ and then went on to serve on the NJ State Parole Board and Commissioner of Camden County Park Police, and lastly National Advocate for Children's Justice; he also held memberships and offices in organizations such as the President of the Delaware Valley Officials Assn., International Association of Approved Basketball Officials, International Rep for AFL/CIO, and held seats on many boards including the NJ Multiple Sclerosis Association. After relocating to Rochester, NY in 1979, Mario joined People's Cable and went on to become the Vice President of Government Affairs at Time Warner Cable from which he retired. Most recently, Mario was the Director of Government Affairs and Community Access at Fibertech Networks. Mario served on many boards in Rochester, most notably the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Rochester Broadway Theater League, Hispanic Business Association, the Stewardship Council for the Diocese of Rochester, the United Way, and the board of Rochester Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Mario will be eternally missed by all that loved him. His witty sense of humor, unequaled honesty and integrity, uncompromising loyalty, enormous heart full of generosity, and his profound passion for life will be carried forward by those that knew him well. In lieu of flowers contributions in his name may be made to either The Sands-Constellation Heart Institute c/o Rochester General Hospital Foundation, 100 Kings Highway South, Rochester, NY 14617 ( www.givergh.org and select Heart Institute) or Lifetime Care Hospice 3111 S Winton Rd, Rochester, NY 14623 ( www.lifetimecare.org/ and select Make a Donation). His family will receive friends FRIDAY 5:00 - 9:00pm at the funeral home (570 Kings Hwy South). Friends are invited to meet the family SATURDAY 11:00am at SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL for his funeral mass. Interment Private. To share a memory or send the family a condolence, please visit www.harrisfuneralhome.com.