This Utah respiratory therapist died of COVID-19 in the hospital where he helped save newborns for decades

The colleagues of Rufino Rodriguez, 65, showed him love in his last moments.

(Photo courtesy of the Rodriguez family) Mariano Rufino Rodriguez, who worked as a respiratory therapist at Utah Valley Hospital's newborn intensive care unit for decades, died at that hospital Saturday, Jan. 23, 2020, from complications of COVID-19. He was 65.

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Sean P. MeansCulture, Food & Business Editor

Sean P. Means has been reporting and editing for The Salt Lake Tribune since 1991 — including 25 years as movie critic. Since 2018, he has reported on arts and culture reporter, and breaking news — and was part of The Tribune’s COVID-19 reporting team. He reviews movies for MovieCricket.net and X96’s “Radio From Hell” program.