Joshua Rodriguez Funeral Expenses

On Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023, Joshua Jason Rodriguez tragically and unexpectedly took his own life. This tragedy has impacted everyone in Josh’s New York and Boston communities. With permission from Josh’s family, I am setting up this fund to help with funeral and memorial expenses as this was so sudden. Josh just turned 30 years old and had so much more to offer this world. He was a loving son and brother, loyal partner, cherished friend, and caring uncle. Josh cared immensely for those around him to a fault- you could find him buying food for the man outside the pharmacy. He was a chess master – playing at Chess Forum, the public library and Times Square honing his craft. He was an intelligent mathematician – learning and solving math equations for FUN. He was a comedic genius that could make anyone full belly laugh with any of his jokes. I am only scratching the surface. We are blessed to have known him for the years he was with us. We all know he had the biggest heart. Joshua was born on March 27th, 1993 with his twin brother Michael to Annette Segars and Angelo Rodriguez in Harlem. Josh was extremely committed to his family and studies. He would have dance parties in their living room where his mother taught him how to dance. Josh would practice opera and sing loudly around the house. He would play video games with his father including his favorites Resident Evil and Pokémon. Josh and Michael went to KIPP STAR Harlem where they were the pilot class to the school. Due to Josh’s scholastic achievements, he was chosen to be a part of A Better Chance Program which allowed him the opportunity to attend high school at Winchester High School in Massachusetts. At 13 years old, Josh moved to Massachusetts to attend school where he made a brotherhood of lifelong friends. He was a star football, basketball, and lacrosse player. Even made the local news TWICE- first for an extreme act of honesty where he turned in a purse he found on a bench containing over $3,000 to the police and the second when Josh assisted in winning his senior year Thanksgiving Day football game against Woburn. After high school, Josh was selected after a rigorous interview process to join the Torch Scholars Program where he received a full ride scholarship to Northeastern University in Boston where he pursued a degree in Mathematics. He was a member of the club lacrosse team on campus which he loved. Joshua was passionate about helping others and dedicated 8 years of his life to social services. Josh started working for RHD in the summer of 2013 as an intern in the Urban Youth Collaborative program which provides residential, day and individual supports for people with developmental disabilities. As an intern, he worked at the Outside the Lines art studio in Medford MA, as a Direct Support Professional supporting case managers with their groups. He formed close relationships with many of the artists and individuals in the program due to his energy and love for others. In 2015 he was hired as a case manager for the In-Home Supports program. Joshua provided support in life skills, social skills, and community integration with an emphasis on having fun while pursuing personal goals. He was also known for his notorious karaoke club. Josh’s life was full of love. In Josh’s free time he enjoyed playing chess, rocking on his ukulele, playing video games, solving math problems, performing magic tricks, Lacrosse and just making others happy. Before he passed, he was working at Ginkgo Bioworks as a Program Coordinator remotely where he managed covid testing in public schools. All Joshua wanted to do was make the world a better place and I know he did that with every life he touched. All we want to do is give him the best celebration of life possible. We are raising money for Josh’s family to help with funeral costs. Truly anything helps! We all love you Josh!