‘Keep his memory alive’ | Mother remembers son who tragically died 30 years ago by offering scholarship in his name

A San Antonio mother said her son died a hero.

Jeannie Quiroz is remembering her son who was tragically killed 30 years ago. At the time, Aaron Rodriguez was 16-years-old and a student at Holy Cross High School. The night before this birthday, he was hit by a drunk driver.

Decades later, the family is honoring Aaron with a scholarship for a senior at Holy Cross.

“There is no greater love, to lay your life down for another,” she said.

December 17, 1993 it when the mother’s life changed forever. She recalled her son walking out the door that night to celebrate with friends.

“He turned around, and he looked at me and he said, ‘Mom nothing is going to happen to me.’ Those were his last words to me,” she said.

That night before his birthday, her son was driving home to drop off friends, when they came across a compressor in the middle of the road. Quiroz said she was told it was the size of a tub. She said her Aaron with a big heart, telling his friends to stop.

“Let’s move this out of the way so no one else will get hurt,” she said. 

Right after, she said when the teen moved it a drunk driver came fast down the road hitting him and another person.

“I had a feeling he would pass, because he was so injured,” the mom said.

Her aspiring Marine died ten days later.

“That’s my solace, that’s my comfort,” she said. “Knowing that was he was a Good Samaritan that he had that in his heart. That’s what his friends told me said, that was Aaron.”

At the time, Aaron was known as a loyal Knight and went to Holy Cross. So now, 30 years later, for the second time, the family is giving a senior at the high school a chance to be eligible for the Aaron Rodriguez Scholarship

“Keep his memory alive,” she said. “For the kids to know it is okay to be kind. It is okay to step out and help. Life doesn’t always have to be about ourselves.”

On Thursday, one student will be selected for the $1,800 scholarship.