INFANT WELFARE SOCIETY OF CHICAGO 3600 W. Fullerton Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647 773.782.2800 fax 773.782.5042 info@infantwelfare.org
a healthy child
Perhaps the first thing that strikes you when you see Jose Luis Rodriguez (he’s “Luis” to all of us) is his smile – so very warm and welcoming to everyone he meets. As so many of us can attest, he is a great asset to the Clinic and a longtime friend of the Auxiliary. Jose Luis Rodriguez began work at the Clinic 16 years ago. When Luis joined the staff his first job was that of a Maintenance Assistant. His responsibilities have grown and now he serves as the Clinic’s Maintenance Supervisor.
When you see Luis at work, he seems well equipped to handle virtually anything that comes his way -- from a broken water pipe to an electrical malfunction. And the manner in which he came to have such an abundance of knowledge about his work is a bit surprising. Luis grew up in Mexico where he was one of eight children; he has four brothers and three sisters. They grew up on a farm, and Luis said that when he was quite young his father realized they needed a new home. So, his father enlisted Luis’ help and that of his four older brothers, and they began to build a stucco home for the family – literally from the ground up. Luis says that when the house was completed, his father couldn’t have been more pleased or proud with their work if they had created a palace. It was a residence that would be home to the Rodriguez family for decades – and it stands to this very day.
In the course of the last decade and a half, Luis has encountered some interesting situations at the Clinic. He recalls a time about 15 years ago when the Clinic learned that then First Lady, Hillary Clinton, would visit IWS to discuss her proposed national health care plan. Luis was contacted by the Secret Service shortly thereafter to discuss security arrangements for the First Lady. Preparations were involved and intense, and for the three days prior to her visit, Luis literally lived at the Clinic (24/7) and spent his days escorting the Secret Service agents throughout the building, familiarizing them with every aspect of the facility. As she was concluding her talk, one of the agents asked Luis if he’d like to be introduced to Mrs. Clinton. Luis said that he would, but as he hadn’t had an opportunity to change from his work clothes, he wasn’t comfortable meeting her. The agent told him there was still time for him to change before she departed. Luis did, and he then met our visiting V.I.P. who thanked him for his efforts to ensure she had a safe visit. Later, Luis received a Presidential Pin in recognition of his work.
He speaks glowingly of the Auxiliary, and he says this organization is one of the reasons he enjoys his work so much. He adds that it’s always inspirational for him to see our patients when they come to the Clinic for their appointments. He knows that they will receive quality care, and that gives him enormous satisfaction and comfort. He describes the Clinic as a sanctuary of sorts for those who need it most, and he is proud to be a part of the IWS team.
Most of us know certain people in our lives whom we might describe as “lighting up a room when they enter it.” Luis is one of those people for IWS and the Auxiliary. And surely all of us who have the pleasure of knowing him can attest to his ready smile and wonderful, warm manner when he greets us as we arrive at the Clinic for a meeting or a visit. How fortunate we are to have someone like Luis as our unofficial ambassador-at-large.
When you see Luis at work, he seems well equipped to handle virtually anything that comes his way -- from a broken water pipe to an electrical malfunction. And the manner in which he came to have such an abundance of knowledge about his work is a bit surprising. Luis grew up in Mexico where he was one of eight children; he has four brothers and three sisters. They grew up on a farm, and Luis said that when he was quite young his father realized they needed a new home. So, his father enlisted Luis’ help and that of his four older brothers, and they began to build a stucco home for the family – literally from the ground up. Luis says that when the house was completed, his father couldn’t have been more pleased or proud with their work if they had created a palace. It was a residence that would be home to the Rodriguez family for decades – and it stands to this very day.
In the course of the last decade and a half, Luis has encountered some interesting situations at the Clinic. He recalls a time about 15 years ago when the Clinic learned that then First Lady, Hillary Clinton, would visit IWS to discuss her proposed national health care plan. Luis was contacted by the Secret Service shortly thereafter to discuss security arrangements for the First Lady. Preparations were involved and intense, and for the three days prior to her visit, Luis literally lived at the Clinic (24/7) and spent his days escorting the Secret Service agents throughout the building, familiarizing them with every aspect of the facility. As she was concluding her talk, one of the agents asked Luis if he’d like to be introduced to Mrs. Clinton. Luis said that he would, but as he hadn’t had an opportunity to change from his work clothes, he wasn’t comfortable meeting her. The agent told him there was still time for him to change before she departed. Luis did, and he then met our visiting V.I.P. who thanked him for his efforts to ensure she had a safe visit. Later, Luis received a Presidential Pin in recognition of his work.
He speaks glowingly of the Auxiliary, and he says this organization is one of the reasons he enjoys his work so much. He adds that it’s always inspirational for him to see our patients when they come to the Clinic for their appointments. He knows that they will receive quality care, and that gives him enormous satisfaction and comfort. He describes the Clinic as a sanctuary of sorts for those who need it most, and he is proud to be a part of the IWS team.
Most of us know certain people in our lives whom we might describe as “lighting up a room when they enter it.” Luis is one of those people for IWS and the Auxiliary. And surely all of us who have the pleasure of knowing him can attest to his ready smile and wonderful, warm manner when he greets us as we arrive at the Clinic for a meeting or a visit. How fortunate we are to have someone like Luis as our unofficial ambassador-at-large.
“The house that Luis built”. . .
Luis meets First Lady Hilary Clinton.
JUAN LUIS RODRIGUEZ
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