Antonio “Tony” Rodriguez of Key Biscayne, Florida, a former Westport resident, died Nov. 10 in Miami. He was 74.
Antonio Rodriguez: former Westporter. Contributed photo
He was born Aug. 12, 1942 in Camaguey, Cuba and left that country with his parents, brother and beloved pet dog seeking political asylum in 1961. The family relocated to Miami briefly before moving again to Denver, Colorado in 1962.
He completed his B.S. and M.S. in mathematics at the University of Denver. He met his first wife in Denver and went to work in business. The majority of his career was spent working for Xerox Corp. in the Latin American Division which allowed him to travel throughout Latin and South America as well as Europe and Asia.
His work also allowed the family to live in several states as well as for two years in Mexico City, Mexico. The family lived for the longest period of time in Westport, where their two children attended school.
He was a generous, sensitive and social person who loved cooking gourmet dishes, photography, dogs, skiing and sailing. He always followed current events, financial markets and worked the crossword puzzle daily. He was a proud member of the Mensa Club.
In 2000, he moved to south Florida, eventually to Key Biscayne in 2009. During his retirement, he pursued his love of cooking, entertaining and travel. With his wife, Nery Quintela, he fully enjoyed a rich social life including weekly games of Domino’s and meetings of a wine and hors d’oeuvres club.
Tony very much loved his children, grandchildren and dogs. He was an optimistic person, whose sense of humor helped him to get through many of life’s challenges, even to the end of his life despite several weeks in a cardiac intensive care unit. He is dearly remembered and terribly missed by surviving friends and family including his wife, children and grandchildren.
He is survived his wife: Nery Quintela of Key Biscayne; brother: Andy (Andres) Rodriguez of Golden, Colorado, two children: Lyn (Carolyn) Rodriguez Neisius of Colleyville, Texas, and Tony (Antonio) Beyra Rodriguez of Morehead City, North Carolina, and five grandchildren. A Celebration of Life was held in his home in Key Biscayne on Nov. 12.
He requested no funeral and his ashes will remain in Florida and Colorado. Donations can be made via the American Humane Society Kindred Spirits memorial program: humanesociety.org.
