It is with sadness that we share the news of the passing of our former faculty member and friend Dr. Juan “Jay” Rodrigo, 75. Jay, as he preferred to be called by all, had recently moved back to Spartanburg, S.C. from Waco, Texas after retiring from a 50-year career as an orthopaedic surgeon. He passed away just before midnight on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 at Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home. Born August 4, 1943 in Washington D.C., he was the son of the late Joseph and Lettie Rodrigo.
A 1961 graduate of Redwood High School in Marin County, Jay received his Bachelor’s degree in Medical Sciences in 1964 and Master’s degree in Biochemistry in 1965 from the University of California, Berkeley.
While at Cal, Jay was a Pac-8 diving champion; he had the option of going to the Olympics or attending medical school, and he chose medical school.
Jay received his M.D. at the University of California San Francisco in 1968, and completed his residency at UCSF Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery.
After graduating, Jay joined the Army in 1973 and served as a group surgeon in the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) stationed in Ft. Devens, Mass.
After completing his military service, Jay embarked on a celebrated career as an orthopaedic surgeon, serving on faculty at UCSF from 1976 to 1984, then at UC Davis from 1984 to 2003, during which time he also served as team physician for the Sacramento Kings and the Sacramento River Cats, the AAA league for the Oakland A’s.
In 2004, Jay re-located to South Carolina with Dr. Richard J. Hawkins and Dr. Steven Singleton to start the Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas. Here, he also served on faculty at both Clemson University and the University of South Carolina.
In 2011, Jay moved to Texas, where he started a total joint program at Hillcrest Hospital, part of the Baylor Scott & White hospital system.
"Dr. Rodrigo was a beloved orthopedic surgeon, educator and friend to the UCSF Orthopedic Surgery alumni community. He attended UCSF for medical school, residency and served as faculty while embarking on an illustrious 50 year career making many contributions to surgeon education and the advancement of the science and practice of our specialty,” said Dr. John Costouros, MD, past president of the UCSF Abbott Society.
“The UCSF Abbott Society had the distinct privilege of welcoming Dr. Rodrigo back to UCSF as our 33rd Inman Professor in 2012. On behalf of the entire UCSF Orthopedic Surgery community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire Rodrigo family. May his memory be eternal," added Dr. Costouros.
“I remember Jay as a wonderfully outgoing person and great supporter of UCSF. He was a skilled surgeon with an endlessly inquisitive mind and creative thinker. We will all miss him greatly,” said Dr. Thomas P. Vail, MD, chair of the UCSF Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery.
"Jay was a great guy. He was my junior resident along with Bob Gilbert at the VA in 1970," said Dr. Robert Bechard, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in Chico, Calif. who was Jay's co-resident at UCSF. "The three of us had a special relationship that I've never forgotten. We were close friends. He was a superb representative of the quality orthopedic surgeons trained in the UCSF program."
“I was fortunate to meet and work with Jay in 1990 and he has continued to be a teacher and an inspiration to me across my career,” said Dr. Aenor Sawyer, MD. “Many of you know him through his work at UCSF and his long and highly respected career in Orthopaedic Surgery.”
Jay is survived by his wife of 21 years, Cindy Austin Rodrigo; one daughter, Rochelle Rodrigo-Adams of Tucson, Ariz.; two sons, Luke Austin Danielewicz of Salt Lake City, Utah and Jesse Doyle Danielewicz of Spartanburg, S.C.; one sister, Stefanie Wayson of Orinda, Calif; and one nephew, Tom Wayson and wife Michelle along with their two sons.
For information on his services, please visit https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/juanrodrigo.
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