Priscilla Aguirre
San Antonio Express-News
SAN ANTONIO — A GoFundMe page has been created for a San Antonio Fire Department employee who died from COVID-19 complications last Friday.
Fire Apparatus Mechanic Hector Rodriguez was the first coronavirus-related death for SAFD, according to fire officials. He was 54.
Rodriguez served the SAFD and the City of San Antonio for 29 years. The fire department said in a statement that Rodriguez had kept its fire trucks and ambulances running so that the firefighters and paramedics of the SAFD could continually work to serve the people of San Antonio.
https://www.facebook.com/SANANTONIOFIREDEPARTMENT/posts/10158422767914030
On the GoFundMe page, a friend of Rodriguez wrote that he was a loving husband, father and grandfather who “left us far too early.” The page said Rodriguez loved his job and was an extremely hard worker.
The donation page was created on Tuesday and has raised $13,240 of it is $15,000 goal as of Thursday afternoon. The funds donated will go to Rodriquez’s family to help pay for his medical and funeral expenses. SAFD said Rodriguez had been hospitalized for multiple days before he died on Friday.
The department also said in its statement that they hope the community honors Rodriguez’s memory by doing everything in their power to protect themselves and their loved ones from this “horrible” disease.
To donate, click here.
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