Feb. 4 reception will celebrate the life of late Professor Silvio Rodriguez

A reception to celebrate the life of Professor Silvio Rodriguez, who taught chemistry in the College of the Pacific for more than 38 years, will be held Saturday, Feb. 4, from 2-6 p.m. at Bella Vista Restaurant in downtown Stockton.

Rodriguez passed away Jan. 17 after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke at age 76.  

He joined the faculty of the College of the Pacific in fall 1978. During his four decades at Pacific, he was the only faculty member to receive both the Faye and Alex Spanos Award (2016-17), which recognizes a longtime college faculty member for teaching and mentoring, and the Stephen E. Corson Award (2010-11), which recognizes a college faculty member for distinction in the teaching of freshman students.  

Rodriguez was instrumental in bringing the American Chemical Society's SEED Project (ACS-SEED) to Pacific, which awards 10-week summer research fellowships to disadvantaged high school students who lack exposure to scientific careers. He served as Pacific's point person and coordinator for the program for nearly 37 years. Pacific hosts eight to 10 SEED students each summer.  

He introduced a number of new courses at Pacific that have enhanced the chemistry program at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Among them, he launched the Introductory General Chemistry course, which was designed to help students who do not have a strong science background or have remedial needs in general chemistry.  He also introduced and coordinated the Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) General Chemistry Workshops in connection with the General Chemistry courses where learning takes place in small groups led by junior or senior peers who have already passed the course.  

Prior to Pacific, Rodriguez held teaching positions at the Universidad de Chile, Santiago, where he earned a bachelor's degree in biochemistry, and at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned his master of science and doctor of philosophy. His research focused on energy transfer and environmental chemistry.  

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Little Angels Service Dogs, P.O. Box 219, Jamul, CA 91935. Please reference PM-RU-IS on all donations.