Ronald Rodney

Ronald Rodney from Phoenix, Arizona departed this life on the morning of Friday November 18, 2022, in Phoenix, AZ where he had been living for the past 10 years. 

Ronald was originally from Haiti and was born in the capital City of Port-au-Prince, on September 10th, 1992. He grew up in his family home in Port-au-Prince until 2010. 

As a child, he attended the Premiere Eglise Baptiste de Port-au-Prince (First Baptist Church of Port-au-Prince) with his family.  Interestingly, in connection with his church, he was able to participate in activities, specifically as a Boy Scout. He was a part of the Groupe Sadrac Hyppolite. He rose through the ranks, starting as a little Cub Scout and ended as Boy Scout, decorated with proudly acquired badges. 

He was loved by everyone in the neighborhood for diverse reasons, but particularly for his overall size and his rounded face. Everyone in the area used to call him “Boulnounous” which can be translated to “Big Teddy Bear.”

              He moved to Arizona about 10 years ago, following the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the city of Port-au-Prince in 2010. Despite this devastating experience, he successfully received his High School Diploma soon after moving to Arizona. 

Not wanting to stop with his diploma, he attempted several programs at Mesa Community College.  Eventually, he made a decision to complete the Dental Assistant Certificate Program at PIMA Medical Institute. It was a formidable career choice as he was friendly and willing to hold a conversation with whomever he came in contact with. 

For years he worked as an interpreter at CyraCom International, where he helped Haitian immigrants with their medical, legal, and financial interpretation needs in the United States.

He knew all too well the frustrations that could result when you were thrust into a world where your native tongue was not readily used to communicate.  He was very passionate about this position, as it offered him the opportunity to help his fellow compatriots.

He enjoyed music, dancing to Konpa, and looking sharp for any and every occasion. At one point, complimentary to his love of music and dancing, he dabbled with the strings of the guitar in an attempt to create melodies that would sound sweet to his ears, and possibly those of an equally exuberant female companion. 

Above all else, Ronald cherished the times he spent with his friends and family. He was outgoing, friendly, and respectful. He had the capacity to make and maintain friendships easily across all ages. He would call all his elders “manmi” or “papi,” which mean mom and dad, respectively. It was an endearing trait that made everyone feel at ease with and love home even more. 

Whenever he was with friends, he was likely joking around, laughing, or giggling uncontrollably. His laugh came from deep within and it radiated throughout his whole body. He was young, full of life, and always contemplating the next endeavor even at his lowest moments. Most importantly, he loved and feared God.

After being displaced by the well-known 2010 earthquake, he attended Tabernacle of Grace Church of the Nazarene in Arizona under the leadership of his brother, Pastor Jean Riccardo Rodney. 

He joined the youth group and was involved in various activities such as ushering, singing, hospitality and event management.  His husky build was always willing to set up for church events and he was one of the few to help with the unfavorable cleaning tasks afterward.  Many church members will say that Ronald was always willing to give them a ride home. Of course, only after grabbing his heaping plate of delicious Haitian food if there was an event taking place after church. He was always willing to serve. 

A few years later, with life changes along the way, he started attending Upon This Rock Christian Church under the leadership of Pastor William Russel. At ATCC, he made the decision to be baptized, an outward expression of his devotion to serve God. It was evident that he loved the Lord and was doing his best to serve God the best he could.  Those who knew him can say that although he had his personal struggles, he always made a consistent and recurring effort to return back to the Biblical teachings that he received early on. 

Deep down, he knew that dwelling in the comforting hands of His Father was ultimately where he could find peace. 

              You and I have been honored and blessed to have encountered and made strong bonds with this Child of God. Let your tears be for those who do not know Christ and who may die without him. As for Brother Ronald, he is with His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He fought the good fight. He finished the race. He kept the faith. Now, there is in store for him the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to him on that day — and not only to him, but also to all who have longed for his return.

Ronald is survived by his father Bongot Rodney.

Siblings: Josmas, Gelin, Carline, Riccardo, Richardson, Yvens, Rose, Ralff, Pyrrhus, Rubens, Nedjie, Ephraim and Ruth 

Education: 

Junior High School: 

College International in Haiti

High School: 

College Canado-Haitien in Haiti

High School Diploma: 

Sun Valley in Mesa, AZ

PIMA Medical Institute:

Dental Assistant Certificate Program

To the members of the family, we offer you our sympathy and love.