Memorial mass for lawyer Rod Garcia, 59, on Oct. 29
‘Heaven now has a wonderful playwright, writer, singer, and attorney’
The FilAm community is still in shock over the demise of beloved community leader, musician and lawyer Rodney Garcia
Garcia, 59, succumbed to a cerebral hemorrhage on October 26 after battling several strokes over the past few years. His family and close friends were at his hospital bedside in Alexandria, Virginia when he breathed his last.
Exactly four years ago, he was singing at a concert in Harmony Hall, Ft. Washington in Maryland with his daughter, Jitter, according to friend Eric Lachica.
“Rod’s songs and short stories will live forever in the fond memories of his friends, libraries and the Internet,” he said.
Rod had many friends in the Metro D.C. community. He was a pro bono lawyer to Filipinos who could not afford the services of a quality attorney. He was also a loving family man. He and his wife Ella have three children.
Jitter works with for the Wall Street Journal in New York; she is also an event planner. Second daughter Karla is a trained dancer and model. She has appeared on Broadway plays and was a finalist in the television show, “So You Think You Can Dance?” Only son Rocky is a saxophone player. He was a scholar at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., and has been accepted into the Berklee School of Music in Boston.
Family friend Gigi Bueno recalled the times she spent driving Rod to his medical appointments.
“I am glad that my son and I were there with him to share smiles, laughters and chats while I drove him to Mt. Vernon Hospital and INOVA Hospital for his procedures. Thank you Rodney for those treasured moments. Thank you too for the advice you shared with my son, ” she wrote on her Facebook wall.
Maurese Owens of the Philippine American Foundation for Charities Inc. said Rod was a good man and brought his many talents to help out the community.
“From his legal expertise to his literary talents; from his music composition and playwriting, each one of us has been touched by him in one way or another,” she said.
Former diplomat Sonny Busa said, “Heaven now has a wonderful playwright, writer, singer composer, attorney and father. But more important, a wonderful friend.”
There will be a memorial mass at St. Columba Catholic Church at 7804 Livingston Road in Oxon Hill, Maryland on October 29th at 11 a.m. A Celebration of Life/Reception follows at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 1633 Tucker Road in Ft. Washington.
