Meet Rudy’s Route

Rudy was a missionary and we were his mission field. He sowed seeds of love, respect, fun, friendliness, neighborliness, positivity, kindness and extreme caring. From mailbox to mailbox, family to family – he cared; he paid attention; he smiled; he laughed; he enjoyed his mail route because he got joy from us. He’ll never know how much joy he gave.

Carol and Russell

Rudy was truly a remarkable person. He found pleasure in all that was good. He made me want to be a better person and reminded me what life was ultimately about; which was love. Loving and respecting one another. When we talked, he encouraged me to go back to school and finish my degree, and I’m pleased to say that I have enrolled and will be going back to school after ten years.

Rudy’s coworker

On Christmas Eve, I saw Rudy out in front and asked him if he had seen any packages for us because our daughters had mailed some things to us. Rudy said he had just received a notification about some at the post office. Couple hours later, he had delivered a box to us. But, in addition, he came back later in the afternoon with another package. Three deliveries in one day. Next time I saw him out in front I thanked him and he said, “No problem! That is my job to deliver mail to you.”

Route 8 Resident

It [Rudy’s smile] was so vibrant and contagious and it always put me in a better mood. Most of the time when I saw Rudy, I was heading out or returning from a bike, run or blade and Rudy would always cheer a big “Hey AMYYYY!” He even ran a few laps with me around the loop on occasion (in his mail suit!).

Amy S.

It was never boring to follow Rudy on his daily job. One day he rang a customer’s bell to ask permission to play on their backyard putting green. Another time we spontaneously challenged a lone boy to a soccer match or took some passes from kids throwing a football. He engaged in some conversation with whomever was outside. Obviously, everyone had something good to say about him. In response, I joked about notating “he is the best mailman ever and deserves a raise” on my clipboard.

Reneo, Rudy’s coworker

Rudy was always checking in to see if they [my twins] were home so he could say hi and have a quick chat with them. Just the kindest and most thoughtful man. He would love to say hi through the mail slot to my now five year old before she was in school. She would run as fast as she could to the front door to catch him before he would leave. He would stop and bring her snacks from his lunch sometimes and little toys. She treasured them and kept them safe in her bedside table.

Route 8 Resident

When my kids were little, they would hear the clank of the mailbox and go running to the front door yelling “Ruuuuuudy!” They loved him! We played many hours of mail carrier in our basement when they kids were little. They all had mail bags strapped over their shoulder and we had a wooden mailbox set with letters and stamps. They would go to all the different rooms of the house delivering mail. If you asked them what they wanted to be when they grew up, the would say they wanted to be a mailman like Rudy.

The Rassins

…my youngest was outside playing one winter day in the yard and I heard him talking to someone. I went to the window to see my son throwing a snowball at Rudy’s truck. Shocked, I asked what he was doing and he said, “Rudy made a bet that I couldn’t hit him before he got in his truck!” And he didn’t! Who thinks of these joyful, impish games but Rudy!! He visited neighbors in the hospital, prayed with you, consoled you, shared in your Olympic dreams! Who could forget his running down the middle of the street with an American flag (borrowed from a neighbor’s house) to waving to send off [a resident] for the Olympic trials? Many neighbors and kids were there waving flags and so was Rudy! His thoughtfulness and humor were abundant.

The Keanes