Hector Manuel Rodriguez of Saranac Lake, NY passed away at his home, surrounded by his loved ones in the dawn and shadowed hours of July 5, 2023, ending a courageous battle with cancer.
Hector was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and after a brief service in the U.S. Marines, held a career in communications technology in Manhattan. He relocated his family to Saranac Lake, NY in the early 90’s where he lived with his wife and children, and worked at Spectrum (previously known as Adelphia Cable), for many years.
Hector was a highly analytical and intelligent man with an affinity for all things technical and mechanical. He also had a love of cooking and would often prepare large and extravagant meals from scratch for his family and catered large events for close friends. Hector’s religion was salsa music, TV and bad puns. In his younger years while living in NYC, he pledged loyalty to the Mets and Coney Island beach – home of Nathan’s hot dogs, weekends spent crabbing and fishing at the ocean piers accompanied by oversized coolers filled with Budweiser. He loved fast cars, motorcycles, a big Christmas and hosting parties. In his later and most recent years, he valued a private life at home and enjoyed family dinners, front yard bonfires filled with music, tinkering in his expansive tool-filled garage, TV streaming marathons and time with his rescued cats. Most iconic, he created a large legacy, being blessed with 2 marriages and fathering 10 Children.
Hector is survived by the love of his life and wife of 29 years Margaret “Peg” Rodriguez; daughters – Angela and spouse Mark, Lea and spouse Dan, Monique, Jessica, Jen and partner Austin, Sonya, Hannah and partner Rick; Sons – Tom and partner Kyndra, Hector, John and Steven; grandchildren – Alex, Morad, Vanessa, Luke, Yousef, Xander, Jorge, Ariyah and Evelyn; his brother Eladio; Sisters Beatrice and Mary Jane; cousin Louie.
Hector is predeceased by his mother Aida with whom he shared a very close relationship.
Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home, 20 Church Street, Saranac Lake, NY 12983. Consistent with Hectors lifestyle and wishes, his family will celebrate his life and memory privately. In appreciation to the countless hours from the local medical community dedicated to his care, family and friends wishing to remember Hector Manuel Rodriguez may make memorial contributions to the Adirondack Medical Center Oncology Department or the High Peaks Hospice in care of the funeral home. Family and friends may also share a memory, send a condolence and sign the on-line guest book at www.fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.