Former Pitzer College vice president, Pilgrim, father

Arnaldo Rodriguez, former Pitzer College vice president for admissions and financial aid, died on June 27, after a short illness.
Born in 1945 in San Juan de los Yeras, Cuba, Arnaldo immigrated to the U.S. in 1962 and was resettled in Portland, Oregon, where he finished high school and went to college at the University of Portland, graduating in 1968. While there he met his future wife, Lucia Miltenberger.
He and Lucia were married in 1970 and spent many years together working and raising their two children, Juan Carlos and Elise. Lucia died in 2013.
He spent his entire working life in education, mainly in the admissions field. He was at Pitzer from 1997 to 2011, and prior to that worked as the dean of enrollment services at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, from 1977 to 1997. He started his career in admissions at Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, Oregon.
Arnaldo and Lucia were members of the Catholic community at the McAlister Center for Religious Activities.
He spent his last few years as a member of the Pilgrim Place community, where he enjoyed playing bridge and mahjong. He also joined a men’s group and became a Stephen minister. Another project close to his heart was the Napier Initiative, which connects the Pilgrim Place community to students at the Claremont Colleges.
He is survived by his children, three older sisters, and three nieces.
A celebration of life will be held in his honor at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 14 at Claremont United Church of Christ, 233 Harrison Ave. A reception will follow at Pitzer College.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Arnaldo Rodriguez Scholarship at Pitzer College at https://www.pitzer.edu/advancement/; Homeboy Industries at https://homeboyindustries.org/donate/donate-online/; or Inland Valley Hope Partners food bank at https://www.inlandvalleyhopepartners.org.
For more information visit https://www.tributes.com/arnaldo.