Always joking and smiling, David Rodriguez, Jr. was a loving, caring person who thought of others before himself. David was a big football fan and especially liked watching the 49ers. He collected baseball and football cards, played video games, loved music and Adam Sandler movies, and enjoyed being with his friends and family.

On Sept. 27, 2002, at the age of 21, David sustained a gunshot to his head. His sister Arlene remembers: “At the hospital, the doctor said, ‘I’m so sorry but David is brain dead and there is nothing we can do for him.’ We all started crying and could not believe what we were being told. As a family, we decided to donate his organs. We didn’t know until later that David had the pink donor dot on his license.”

David donated his heart, kidney, lungs, liver, pancreas and tissue. His family has heard from one of the recipients who received David’s gift of life.

The Rodriguez family has since become involved with the Donate Life Ambassador program. “We have become active volunteers and use David’s story to inspire others to donate,” said Arlene. “Our mom also tells people that you don’t have to die to be a donor, you never know when a family member will need a transplant. We are all proud to be part of the Donate Life Ambassadors family.”