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October 7, 2020

Alumni Profile Miguel “Miggy” Rodriguez

Miguel Andres Rodriguez author of poetry collection The Worlds of Us

Poet, Baseball Fan, Thinker, Security Expert, and Family Man,  Miguel (Miggy) Andres Rodriguez Jr. came from the quintessential Bloomingdale family.  When he started at Bloomingdale in September, 1995, both his mother, Gina Marquez, and his father, Miguel Rodriguez, were teaching at the Columbus Avenue site. His teachers, José Velilla, now Executive Director of Bloomingdale and Joyce Dye, a long time Bloomingdale teacher who has now moved to the NYC public schools, remember his energy and happy spirit well. Miggy went to West Side Schools – PS 84, Mott Hall II, and  Frederick Douglass Academy and after high school headed to SUNY Buffalo. He thought he was going to major in forensic chemistry but it turned out there were only two courses he could take in that area. He ended up in criminal justice with a minor in psychology. Miggy’s love of language developed from his father’s love of music. He instilled in Miggy an appreciation for lyricism in music, encouraging him to understand why you feel the way you do when you listen. 

Going to college was Miggy’s first time away from New York City, his parents, and his younger sister Ginel (also a Bloomingdale alumni), and his first year was challenging. He lost a number of significant people in his life, including his best friend from Bloomingdale. He turned to writing poetry and also found strength in his relationships with his cousin, who lived near Buffalo, and Selina Runge, now his wife.  He cites three books as strong influences on his thinking:

  • Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
  • The Art of Loving by Eric Fromm
  • What We Talk About When We Talk about Love by Raymond Carver

All of these, in different ways, address the role of love in our lives and finding work that is significant. Miggy published his first book of poetry, The Worlds of Us, under his pen name, Miguel Andres. He has been working in security at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital while also earning his Master’s degree in security management from John Jay College. He says the secret of balancing work and his commitments to Selina, and now his two daughters, Jaylene and Maya, is “no sleep”. Jaylene, now 5, attended Bloomingdale for two years, and Maya was born last winter before he finished his degree. Miggy and his family recently moved back to Buffalo, where he is working at Daemen College as Campus Safety Supervisor. We will miss them and hope to see them at future Bloomingdale Reunions.

The Worlds of Us by Miguel Andres is available here:

Blurb Amazon  Apple ebook

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    Miguel Andres Rodriguez author of poetry collection The Worlds of Us
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    Classroom teacher José Velilla helps a group of 4 year olds including Miggy Rodriguez (L)
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    4 year old MIggy Rodriguez building with his friends
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    1997 Miggy on far right whispering to a friend as a group of boys builds with blocks
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    1997 Classroom teacher Joyce Dye comforts Miggy
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    2010 Bloomingdale Family Program Reunion Miguel Rodriguez and son Miguel Rodriguez
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    Miggy and Selina play with their 3 month old daughter Jaylene
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    MIggy with Selina, Jaylene 3 months old, his mother Gina Marquez and his sister Ginel, age 15
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    Miguel and Selina's wedding August 17 2018
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    Ginel and her grandmother Miguel and Selina's wedding August 17 2018
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    Gina Marquez and her father Miguel and Selina's wedding August 17 2018
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    Miguel and Selina's wedding August 17 2018
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    Miguel and Selina's wedding August 17 2018
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    Bloomingdale Reunion 2019
    Ginel Rodriguez age 18 with her brother Miguel Rodriguez age 26
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    Jaylene and classmate building with magnetic tiles in the 4s.
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    Miguel Sr. sharing his love of language with Jaylene
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    4 year old Jaylene playing with her younger sister
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    Miguel “Miggy” Rodriguez
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    MIggy playing with Maya, 4 months old
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    Miggy, Selina, Jaylene and Maya at their new home in Buffalo NY
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