It is my deepest regret to announce the passing of Julio Rodriguez, a Tampeño legend and the founder of the Ybor City Stogie.
Julio and I met on a bus on the way to a Fight for 15 protest. He had his revolutionary sword — his quintessential camera — and over the next few years a cross generational friendship evolved. It spanned the hard fought campaigns of activist politicians such as Pat Kemp, Mariella Smith, Sky White, and Andrew Gillum. It traversed many up in smoke trips to Ybor City, in and out of fine establishments such as the Reservoir and NY NY Pizza (where we would often meet up with Glen Eich and Candy Lowe). It led him to the incredible adventure when Julio volunteered to drive me (and my two cats, and hedgehog) in a 20 foot U-Haul towing my old Chevy HHR from Tampa all the way up to Bennington when I made my interstate move. Julio was the definition of a mensch.
I recall Julio would always offer people experiencing homelessness some money merely for the opportunity to take a photograph of them; to encapsulate Tampa’s forgotten, lost, and most marginalized souls. Julio truly cared for marginalized people, and believed in progressive values, as well as democratic socialism. Julio would tell me stories of his Cuban roots and of his father who worked in the famed Columbia Restaurant.
Julio was big on riding the bus and advocating for public transit in Tampa. In the 2019 mayoral election, Julio and I started a last minute campaign to push for the Stogie’s mascot “Lenny” to a mayoral candidate to run against Castor and Straz. No write in option for the general election, unfortunately, much to my dismay. Julio sent me off to Vermont with a “Tampa Berner” shirt seeing as we both were supporter of Bernie’s. Julio used his power of photography and blogging to support many a genuine issue.
After the advocate for sex workers, Syd Eastman, passed away, Julio took it upon himself to ensure her memory preserved by creating a Sydney Eastman Courage Award to courageous individuals who supported empowering causes. And, Julio has used this very blog, the Stogie, to promote goodness and resistance to the kinds of evil we see now being perpetrated against people by a corrupt government.
Julio did not particularly like having his picture taken. I insisted on it a few times, during our last visits when I had flown down to Tampa. For him, it was more about the cause than it EVER was about him. That speaks volumes about Julio.
Gosh, I so wanted him to meet my son, and to see real progressives like AOC take command of our country’s deteriorating situation. Turn it from the brink. I believe we owe it to Julio to keep this going. Vote, organize, resist, inform, and when we need to, viva la revolution.
What more could I say? That I wish with all of my heart that I could have Julio come up to Bennington once more for a drink at Kevin’s? To go to one more protest with him? Share your thoughts, memories, and stories. Honor his memory. I am heartbroken and it will take some time to digest this news. Please keep Julio’s family in your thoughts.
Damn, I am going to miss you, Julio. Seemed like only days ago you were liking posts of mine (with my son, I think) on Facebook. This news hurts.
With a heavy heart,
Asher Edelson
¡Viva la humilde escriba!
Julio Rodriguez
05/27/56 — 01/30/26
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