Rancho Santa Fe Association honors longtime employee Olimpio Rodriguez

The Rancho Santa Fe Association honored longtime parks and recreation employee Olimpio Rodriguez, who is retiring after 32 years of service to the community.

At the Association’s Feb. 5 meeting, Field Operations Manager Arnold Keene said he remembers his first day 12 years ago when Rodriguez popped out from behind a tree and greeted him with a warm hello.

He said Rodriguez has always been that way, coming to work on top of his game and influencing everyone around him to work harder to make a better community for everyone.

“I’ve never seen him have a bad day,” Keene said. “He is loved by everyone that knows him.”

With his daughter Alma translating for him, Rodriguez thanked the Association for the opportunity.

“He is really grateful and thankful for all the years he’s been a part of the Association,” Rodriguez said. “He is grateful to have had an amazing job and pleased he was able to take care of my mom and be able to give her a great life.”

Rodriguez’s wife passed away last month, and Rodriguez that said thanks to the insurance provided by the Association, he believes his family was able to have an extra three years with her.

The Association board gave Rodriguez a framed proclamation and a watch at its Feb. 5 meeting. It also hosted a barbecue lunch on Friday, Feb. 13, at the parks and recreation office attended by Rodriguez’s family and many Association staff members, including RSF Patrol Chief Matt Wellhouser, who has become good friends with Rodriguez after working alongside him for 32 of his 35 years in the Association.

“He loved it here,” said his youngest daughter, Marcela. “He felt like he was a part of a family.”