First, my deepest condolences go out to the Aglibot family. I am heartbroken at his loss and I just can’t imagine the depth of your pain and I am so very, very sorry. Thank you for bringing such an amazing human being into the world. He was a tremendous gift to me and I will always be so thankful for my time with Rod.

I met my dear sweet friend Rod at UCLA. I never again lived in California, but Rod would visit me in the various places I lived, Colorado and Washington State and I would see him in San Francisco and LA and at his restaurants and he would never pass up an invitation to come to my parent’s house in San Juan Capistrano when we both happened to be in town. He was just so loving and kind and family oriented and even my Mom just mentioned to me that she had spent an hour long phone conversation (sometime in the 90’s I think) talking to him about his hopes and dreams for the future. When he visited S. CA I would bake him chocolate cookies and he told me this last December that he had fond memories of my Mom’s Chicken Divan which I always thought was sweet, funny and just so truly, authentically Rod. When I couldn’t figure out why my pasta didn’t taste right cooing at altitude he said to use kosher salt and I have ever since. He taught me about a proper plate lunch with 2 scoop rice and mac salad. He was the most amazing chef of course and I loved the treat of eating at his restaurants, but I remember his beautiful soul through the simple meals and just being with him and his deep, deep love and joy for all those he met. We had been out of touch many of the years since I settled in CO and started a family but I am so thankful that I had a chance to talk to him for a few days in a row this last December and to tell him how much I cherished our friendship and how much I cared for him and that I was so thankful for all of the times we’d had together. I’m crying again as I write this. He was just simply the best. I love him so very much.