BATON ROUGE – Restaurateur Ruffin Rodrigue,53, has died, sources told WBRZ.

Rodrigue’s mark on the food industry can be found in Baton Rouge and Lafayette staples: Ruffino’s.  He also owned other enterprises. 

Rodrigue was an LSU football player like his father.

“Whether it’s the food we serve or the service we provide, our goal is to ensure a remarkable experience for our guests that will always be remembered,” Rodrigue said of his restaurant's philosophy in a statement on its website.

Rodrigue credited his success to his father and his time on the LSU football squad.  His restaurant remembered: "As a football player at LSU, Ruffin learned another valuable lesson that would provide the foundation of things to come – that hard work always pays off when you love what you do."

Ruffino's released a statement Wednesday morning about Rodrigue's passing: "Ruffino’s is saddened to announce that our owner and founder Ruffin Rodrigue Jr. passed away unexpectedly last night. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.