Orlando Rodriguez

Orlando Rodriguez Betancourt
Orlando Rodriguez, 79, laid down his working tools on July 4th, 2024 and passed away surrounded by family at White Plains Hospital. Orlando was born on March 17, 1945 to Arcenio Rodriguez and Mercedes Betancourt from Central Gomezmena, Cuba. Orlando spent his childhood in Cuba before settling in White Plains, New York, where he would eventually make his home. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Neida Tejera and his two children; his son Jose 'Pepe' Rodriguez and his wife Colleen and his daughter Mareilys Soria and her husband Edwin as well as his grandchildren Ella and Nilo Rodriguez, and Nina and Alanna Soria.
Orlando was the youngest of 6 siblings. He was predeceased by his brother, Antonio Rodriguez but is survived by his brother, Armando Rodriguez; his sisters, Yolanda Rodriguez, Miriam Busto, and Alicia Barreiro. He is also survived by 12 nieces and nephews including Maura Zurita, Alicia Maria Corrales, Norma Barreiro, Armando Rodriguez, Orlando Barreiro, Manolo Busto, Olga Lidia Busto, Olga Rodriguez, Maribel Gonzalez, Mercedes Rodriguez, Martha Maubert, and Yolanda Gonzalez.
Orlando was an incredible chef who honed his passion for food and service in the tiny beach town of Caimito in Cuba. When he arrived in the US, he worked for his brother but after a few years, he decided to go into business for himself and opened a restaurant called the Latin American Café in White Plains where he delighted in serving his favorite Cuban cuisine and engaging with his community for more than 21 years.
Orlando and Neida enjoyed traveling and were fortunate enough to visit and explore many countries throughout the world. However, the thing that made him happiest was to host family and friends at home. He would often be found putting his special touches on the meals he made on the stove or out back on the grill. He also had a wicked sense of humor that endeared him to family and friends alike.
Orlando became a Freemason in Cuba when he was 13 years old and when he came to the US, his involvement and dedication only grew stronger. He was a founder and long-time member of Hijos de Conciliacion in Miami, FL and later became a member of Miguel Teurbe-Tolón lodge in West New York, NJ where he rose in rank and became a Venerable Master for 14 years. He was highly involved in helping new members learn rites and progress through the degrees of freemasonry. When it was time, he founded another new lodge in Union City, NJ called Respetable Logia Nuevo Amanecer Masónico. Of all the accomplishments Orlando would want to be remembered for, his association with the Freemasons and his status as Grandmaster Mason are two of the most important. He loved spending time with his lodge brothers and helped promote awareness of freemasonry in his town and anywhere he traveled.
Orlando's legacy of warmth, generosity, and culinary excellence will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by all who knew him.