Public Visitation for Restaurateur Ruffin Rodrigue Taking Place Today in Baton Rouge

Family and friends of former LSU football player and well-known restaurateur Ruffin Rodrigue will gather today (12/1/20) to honor his memory during a public visitation being held from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at Coleman Hall of Baton Rouge's St. James Episcopal Church.

Rodrigue passed away on Wednesday, November 25 at the age of 53.

A native of Thibodaux, he is survived by his wife of nearly fifteen years, Alison, and their two children, Adam and Maggie, as well as his father and two brothers, Gawain and Braden.

Rodrigue had a successful football career at LSU, including being named an All-SEC lineman and helping the team to SEC Championships in 1986 and 1988.

After graduating in 1990, he would continue playing football as part of the World League of American Football until an injury pushed him away and allowed him to set his sights on his business aspirations.

Rodrigue got into the restaurant business and was immensely successful, eventually becoming the owner of Ruffino's Restaurant, which currently has locations in Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

After today's public visitation will be a committal of ashes ceremony, a private event which will be held at St. Joseph Cemetery in Thibodaux at a later date.

The Rodrigue family is asking that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to offer condolences do so by donating to the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center or to the charity of their choice.