RE Log - Fall 2022

FALL 2022 Ransom Everglades LOG 89 Jose Rodriguez passed away Dec. 28, 2021. Jose was hired by the late Frank Hogan and began his tenure at Ransom Everglades in 1989 as Chair of the Fine Arts Department. He was involved in the late 1990s development of the fine arts complex that now includes the Frankel Family Visual Arts Center, Rehearsal Hall and Lewis Family Auditorium on the upper school campus. His greatest legacy, however, was the impact he had on his students and the people around him. He was the yearbook dedicatee in 2012; in that edition, then-student Eyvana Bengochea ’12 said simply: “He is a genius.” Arts Faculty Member Astrid Dalins shared this reflection: “I first met Jose Rodriguez in the early ’90s at a University of Miami art gallery exhibit that featured pieces from Miami art historians and artists’ private collections. When he inter- viewed me for a position at RE in 1995, I realized that the toy collection I had seen years before belonged to this deep voiced, meticulous, smartly dressed art depart- ment chairman. Little did I know that his office was just the tip of an iceberg or some other metaphor like the layer of an onion, or the cover of an epic novel. A conversation with Jose Rodriguez was always an adventure. He could hold students and colleagues entranced with stories, facts, show and tell and never-ending stories and facts about his memorabilia. A consummate showman, he was always on the look-out for unique images and props. His art history lessons could be likened to a PBS documentary crossed with the soothing presentation of Alistair Cook. His commitment and passion for art history were infectious. An Artistic Genius JRod’s passion for art history changed students’ lives His AP students would come to campus at 6 a.m. for morning study sessions. Alumni would visit and bring friends to see his office and attend special lectures on Alumni Weekend. Tours of his house and collections were a popular item in the RE auction catalog. And as my visual arts colleagues can attest, Jose Rodriguez’s sense of humor, elaborate prank planning and satirical wit were just more facets to his multi-dimen- sional persona. With the seriousness of a presi- dential address, no one but Jose Rodriguez could present an agenda item called ‘What art will look like in the future: materials that can be used in space’ and forever leave us wonder- ing whether we were pranked or had he actually been considering the possibilities. After all, among his diverse interests, he was also a big fan of NASA (and Star Wars, Star Trek etc., etc.) And we were big fans of him.” Said Zoey Kambour ’14 : “Jose Rodriguez III (lovingly known as JRod) changed my life in high school. I will never forget sitting in his art history classroom when I was a freshman, listening to him talk about my now-fa- vorite painting, “The Arnolfini Double Portrait” by Jan van Eyck. While some of my classmates snoozed, I wrote down every word he said, absolutely riveted by the material. After class, I stayed and talked with him about it as long as I could, completely geeking out over its mystery and beauty. It was the moment that got me into art history. I took two more art history classes my junior and senior year, frequently staying after class to talk further about the material. Because of him, I studied art history in college and am now a thriving professional art historian. I cannot fathom what my life would be like now if not for him.” Lara Levi Lauria ’05 wrote, “Mr. Rodriguez was an incredible educator. He was inspirational and motivating. He set me on my college career path to pursue a degree in art history at Tufts. I will always credit him for fostering my love for art and introducing me to the incredible world of art analysis and cura- tion. May his memory be a blessing.” Ransom Everglades will honor Jose Rodriguez’s memory during Alumni Weekend 2023. Phil Lord ’93 with Jose Rodriguez