With heavy hearts but endless love, we celebrate the life of Daniel Orlando Rodriguez Colon, who passed away on May 22, 2026.
Daniel was the kind of person who could make an entire room laugh without even trying. He was funny in a way that cannot be taught, the kind of funny that made ordinary moments unforgettable and made people want to be around him. Beneath all of the jokes, sarcasm, and laughter was someone incredibly sweet, caring, and deeply loved by everyone fortunate enough to know him.
If there was one thing everyone knew about Daniel, it was that he loved skateboarding. Skateboarding was more than a hobby to him, it was part of who he was. It brought him happiness, freedom, community, and some of his favorite memories. Whether he was talking about skating, watching skating videos, spending time at skate parks, or simply being around the culture he loved so much, skating was one of the many things that made Daniel feel most like himself.
In 2021, Daniel was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma, a diagnosis that would change his life forever. What followed was not just a battle against cancer, but years of courage, resilience, and determination that constantly amazed everyone around him. While many people with this disease are not given much time, Daniel refused to be defined by statistics. He fought every single day for nearly five years, showing a level of strength that most people could never imagine.
Daniel did not simply survive, he lived. He continued finding reasons to laugh, reasons to smile, and reasons to keep going even when things became unimaginably difficult. His fight was not quiet. It was fierce.
He loved Star Wars, making people laugh, being surrounded by the people he loved, and finding joy wherever he could. There are countless people whose lives are better simply because Daniel existed in them. The same determination that kept him fighting for years was the same determination he carried throughout his life, stubborn, strong, and never willing to quit.
Daniel leaves behind his loving parents, Daniel and Saribelle Rodriguez, his sister, Roxanna Rodriguez, and countless family members, friends, and loved ones who will continue carrying his memory forward every day.
The world feels quieter without Daniel in it. But anyone who knew him knows that his story cannot be summarized by illness, hospitals, or hardship. His story is one of laughter, resilience, loyalty, skateboards, late conversations, inside jokes, love, and a person who fought harder than anyone should ever have to.
We hope that when people think of Daniel, they remember the laughter he brought, the strength he showed, and maybe picture him doing what he loved most—skating freely, making everyone around him smile.
Daniel was extraordinary.
And he will be missed more than words could ever explain.
A memorial mass in honor of Daniel’s life will be held on May 30th at 11:00 AM at St. Bede Catholic Church, followed by interment at St. Bede’s columbarium. All who knew and loved Daniel are invited to join in celebrating his life and legacy.
