Orlando Rodriguez of Pembroke Pines, Florida passed away suddenly on January 21^st, 2021 at the age of 83.  Orlando was born on July 16^th, 1937 in Havana, Cuba to Osvaldo Rodriguez and Petronda Compo.  While growing up in Cuba, he played soccer for the national team and worked as a pharmacy apprentice.  At the age of 17, he met the love of his life, Maria Padron, and they were soon married.  In 1958, they emmigrated to the US and moved to the Bronx, New York.

Soon after moving to New York, Orlando and Maria had three wonderful children, Orlando, Rolando, and Maria, all born in the Bronx.  For a short time, the family moved to Connecticut where Orlando worked as a steel worker.  In 1968, the family moved to Miami and soon made their home in Hollywood, Florida.  Orlando worked as a baker at the famous Woofies Bakery in Miami Beach.  In 1983 he began his long and successful career as a baker and bakery manager for Publix Supermarkets.

Orlando had many hobbies.  While the children were young, Orlando loved taking his family on long driving vacations all over the United States.  He coached his sons’ baseball teams, and ultimately became the president of the Hollywood West Optimist Club.  After he retired, he and his wife Maria took many cruises, traveling to multiple destinations throughout the Caribbean and internationally.  He was also an avid fan of Miami sports teams, especially the Dolphins.

Orlando was a kind and generous man with a quick wit and a great sense of humor.  He will be remembered most as a loving and devoted husband of 63 years to his wife Maria, and as a proud father to Orlando, Rolando, and Maria, as well as a loving grandfather to many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He was respected by everyone he met, and he will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife Maria, his three children Orlando (Nancy) Rodriguez of Ocean Springs, MS, Rolando (Leslie) Rodriguez of Marco Island, FL, Maria Lopez of Delray Beach, FL, four grandchildren, Vanessa (Adrian) Candelario of Vancleave MS, Ramon (Amber) Rodriguez of Biloxi, MS, Chanele Smith of Cape Coral, FL, and A.J. (Erin) Lopez of Lake Worth, FL, and 11 great-grandchildren, Jah’Lissa, Jayla, Julian, Mayleen, Alyssa, Ramon, Finlay, Austyn, Gavin, Devin, and Landon.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Osvaldo Rodriguez and Petronda Compo, and brothers Victor and Osvaldo.

A Public Visitation will be held on Monday, January 25, 2021 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM with Tributes of a Lifetime at 3:00 PM at Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, 6400 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood Florida 33024.