Camilo Rodriguez's Obituary
Camilo Rodriguez suddenly passed away on January 5, 2023 of respiratory failure brought on by pneumonia. His life was the embodiment of the American dream.
Born in San Cristobal, Pinar del Rio, Cuba. As a young man, he found his gift - a natural tenor who entertained his father’s clients and friends singing traditional Cuban songs a cappella. This gift brought him solace through life’s trials and tribulations. As the middle child, he attended boarding school at Los Escolapios in the province of Pinar del Rio, Cuba and then at the age of 12 years transferred to Toccoa Falls High School in Georgia, United States.
After graduating high school, he returned to Cuba. His father’s plans were dashed when the Castro regime took over his businesses and property resulting in his untimely death at 53. He went back to Toccoa to start college but never finished. Eventually, Camilo moved to Puerto Rico and then to Miami doing odd jobs - waiter, bell hop, property manager, and countless others. During this time, he sang in the Greater Miami Opera Guild chorus. He worked at Dash Doors throughout this period. He met the love his life after being convinced to go on a blind date and she would become his wife years later. They shared over 50 years of wedded bliss and had two children. He was very proud of his children’s accomplishments.
In the 1970s at the urging of his cousin, he opened Pronto Doors which remained in business until his retirement in 2010. Throughout this time, he always found time to continuing singing. He created a not for profit organization which provided contemporary and classical music concerts in Miami. He identified and mentored many rising opera stars.
Camilo was a person that was well read, knew countless classical operas by heart, funny, generous to a fault, and knew how to build things from scratch. While he never completed college, he told people that he had a PhD from the school of hard knocks.
Camilo was a loving father. He is survived by his wife Charilyn and his children Catherine and Christopher as well as their extended families of Patricia, Anthony, Penny, Jackie, and Nace. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Carlos. He is survived by his younger sister Claudina and her extended family as well as his brother’s extended family..
Viewing will be held on January 24th Tuesday from 6 to 10 pm at Ferdinand Funeral Homes. Graveside service will be on January 25th 2023 Wednesday at 11am at Our Lady Of Mercy Cemetery.
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