Rodney S. Rodriguez, 83
Rodney Scott Rodriguez of Springs died on April 21 at Southampton Hospital, two weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. He was 83.
Amagansett born and bred, Mr. Rodriguez was one of eight children of the former Dorothy Scott and Jesse M. Rodriguez Sr. Upon his graduation from East Hampton High School, he was drafted into the Army and served stateside as a sergeant during the Korean War. After his discharge, he returned here and went to work in his father’s landscaping business. Eventually he and a brother, James Rodriguez, who died before him, took over the business and named it J & R Landscaping. Before retiring, Mr. Rodriguez worked for 17 years for the Town of East Hampton at its recycling center.
A member of Company 1 of the Amagansett Fire Department for 62 years, he served as chief of the department from 1966 to 1968, followed by two terms on the board of commissioners, from 1972 to 1976 and again from 1988 to 1992.
His marriage to Caroline Mae Weiberg ended in divorce. They had two daughters, Carla Rodriguez, who lives in East Hampton, and Dorothy Rodriguez, who died of cancer two and a half years ago. In 1976, he married Judith Wilson of Water Mill, who died in 2013.
Mr. Rodriguez is also survived by his brother Leonard Rodriguez of Sag Harbor; two sisters, Alicia Hoyt and Shirley Wornstaff of East Hampton, and two grandchildren. Two other sisters, Dorothy Moss and Eleanor Hutflas, died before him, as did another brother, Jesse M. Rodriguez Jr. of Amagansett.
The family received visitors at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton on April 25. The following day the Rev. Steven Howarth of the Amagansett Presbyterian Church presided at a graveside service at the family plot at Oak Grove Cemetery in Amagansett. Mr. Rodriguez was cremated.
Memorial donations may be directed to the Amagansett Fire Department, P.O. Box 911, Amagansett 11930, or to American Legion Post 419, P.O. Box 1343, Amagansett.