Richard Mendes Rodrigues

Richard Mendes Rodrigues, 44, passed away on Wednesday November 15, 2023 surrounded by love. Born on May 5th 1979 in Suffern, NY, Richard was first generation Portuguese-American. He was very proud of his Portuguese heritage and some of his favorite travels were returning as much as possible to appreciate the beautiful country and visit with family and friends. The kindest soul you could ever meet, Richard never met a stranger, and always brought happiness and laughter everywhere he went. 

Fluent in three languages, Richard began working at a young age in the family business,but went on to study at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Upon relocating to Wake Forest, he worked in Technology Business Development for multiple firms such as Cisco and Lenovo; later moving on as founding partner of a video conference startup. After working in the corporate world, he moved on to follow his true passion of real estate investment and began his own business. 

Richard’s greatest joy was his family. He is survived by his parents, Noemia and Fernando Rodrigues, his paternal grandmother Irmalinda Ferreira in Portugal, his wife Alexandra (high school sweethearts, together for 29 years, married 18 years), their three children, Nicolas (16), and twins Julianna and Tomas (11), his brother Andrew Rodrigues, brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, RJ Ruberti, Mary Michenzie, Christina Oliveira, and Cristiana Rodrigues, who all loved him as their own brother. 

He is also survived by 7 nieces and nephews who called him the “fun uncle”; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins who all loved him dearly; including his beloved Uncle Tony Mendes and close cousins Nuno Rodrigues and Antonio Rodrigues who were all like brothers to him. Richard was loved by so many and the world of those who had the pleasure to know and love him will never be the same. 

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