Obituary of Rodney J. Mailloux

Rodney J. Mailloux, 71, of Danbury passed away on Tuesday April 17, 2018 at Danbury Hospital surrounded by his loving family and friends.  Mr. Mailloux was born June 15,1946 in Danbury to the late Adrian and Jean (Ephrem) Mailloux.

Rodney had a 45 year career in the fields of Mental Health and Addiction Services.  He graduated from the University of Bridgeport with a Masters of Science in Agency and Psychology Counseling. Through the years he worked at Fairfield Hills Hospital and Berkshire Woods Treatment Center, Newtown, and AIDS Project Greater Danbury.

Rodney was an outstanding licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor who repeatedly went above and beyond to ensure each individual client was treated with dignity and respect.  Rodney was also one of the first Counselors in the country to offer HIV testing and counseling in an addiction treatment setting.  He took on these additional responsibilities in response to the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s. He was a pioneer in providing HIV support groups and individual counseling, and had remained committed to this work throughout his life.
 
It was said of Rodney by his friends and colleagues that after they made Rodney, they broke the mold.  He always marched to his own drummer.  It would be impossible to try to sum it up in a few words, as he was as unique as they come.  

Rodney had great compassion for people and animals, and especially loved his cats.  He was extremely generous with a heart of gold, and would literally give you the shirt off his back (one of his favorite black ones).

Rodney loved New York and loved muscial theater.  He owned every Barbra Streisand album made, and could belt out the lyrics to every song she sang.  And he loved going big.  No small car for Rodney.  A visit to New York included a stretch limo for his friends and dinner at nothing less than Tavern on the Green.