It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Valentine Rodriguez. Valentine ("Val") was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1927 to Adolfo and Eugenia Rodriguez. Orphaned at a young age, Val and his three young sisters went to live with their maternal aunt, Hortencia, and her husband Silvano in Havana. In spite of his love for learning, Val willingly quit school while in the 8th grade in order to join the work force and help provide for his sisters. It was during this season that Val learned not only the value of hard work, but also the importance of perseverance in the midst of difficult trials. The lessons learned in his youth would one day serve to mold him into the man he would one day become...a man of tenacity, love, and integrity.
In 1955 Val married the love of his life, the very beautiful and spunky Ida Valle. Together the couple lived a very tranquil and simple life with their young daughters in Havana. In 1962, as communism continued to advance and infiltrate the island, the couple decided that their daughters deserved a good life...a life of freedom and opportunity... which can never be achieved in a communist country. It was their desire for a better future that led the family to the United States in the Spring of 1962 and settled in Los Angeles. Val used the skills he had acquired while working with his uncle in Cuba and quickly opened a business, "Valentine Glass and Screens", in Los Angeles. With much ambition and hard work, he later went back to school and earned his Real Estate Broker license, helping many families find their dream homes.
It has been said that trials can either make a person a victim or a victor. Val made the choice early in life to not let difficult circumstances stand in the way of reaching his goals and fulfilling his dreams. The choice he made has impacted the lives of many who were blessed to know him. Valentine...a man of integrity...love...full of wisdom and a heart felt desire to always be of service to others. He is survived by his 3 daughters, 12 grandchildren, 7 great - grandchildren, and many friends and surviving relatives. As he peacefully rests in the arms of our Savior, we are left with the promise that one day we will be re-united...sharing eternity with the man who touched the lives of many and was loved by those who knew him. Thank you, Val, for teaching us the value of the phrase you loved to quote, "Life is Beautiful." May we never take life for granted. You never did.