On February 28, 2025, Rudy Vedovell made his final ascent from Guadeloupe Island, the Caribbean. Upon hearing, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” Rudy immediately sought out Jesus and began regaling Him with the adventurous stories of his life. Jesus smiled and quietly said, “I know, I was there. ”
Born on November 22, 1927 in Chicago, Rudy became acquainted with a book that would shape the course of his life: The Book of Marvels by Richard Halliburton. Inspired by the incredible stories of adventure and travel, Rudy determined to live his life to the fullest, and to share the fun with loved ones.
Rudy was a passionate and talented mountaineer. Upon his 50th birthday, he determined that he would begin his climbing career with the Matterhorn. He went on to become the 19th person in the world to climb the 50 highest points in the USA! Between the ages of 74 – 78, Rudy climbed all of the “Fourteeners” 54 peaks in Colorado, and continued on to climb the high points of every country in Europe (age 78 – 82). At 90 years old, Rudy summitted the Table Mountain in Capetown, South Africa.
A lifelong skiier, Rudy remained on his skiis, downhill untill 95 years old, and cross country until his death. A highlight was skiing the Haute Route ski tour which connects the Matterhorn and Mount Blanc. Rudy’s years serving in the Navy and the Coast Guard instilled a love for blue water and sailing. Over the course of years, Rudy collected 14 sailboats. The first was named the Toad, the last was named Nautilus and Rudy and Suzy spent 21 years wintering in the Bahamas on it. In 1974, Rudy was the overall winner of the Chicago Mackinac Race with his own sailboat, The Patriot. With his good friend, Don Hillebrands, Rudy sailed the original Chamois (“Goat”) across the Pacific from Holland, MI to Auckland, New Zealand. Being in their 60’s, they nicknamed the voyage The Old Goat Trip. After a year away, Suzy strongly suggested that it was time for them to come home, and Rudy was wise enough to do so. Rudy and Suzy lived with their family for a year on a sailboat in the Caribbean, pulling up anchor to travel to New York Harbor for the 1976 Bicenntenial. The name of the boat was The Little Patriot, and it perfectly nestled in next to the Statue of Liberty.
During the year long family trip, the Little Patriot anchored in the harbor of Guadeloupe. It was in the same harbor that the Barkentine cruise sailboat, The Star Flyer, turned into port when Rudy became ill at sea. The Star Flyer was a beloved ship to Rudy and Suzy, and was where they also celebrated their 50th anniversary.
Suzy and Rudy met at a Crazy Hat Party in Old Town Chicago in Spring, 1959. After Suzy turned Rudy down three Saturday nights in a row, she was promptly removed from his Little Black Book. Going past the Chicago Yacht Club, Suzy wondered if she had made the right choice. At a party at the Saddle and Cycle Club, the two were reunited and Rudy was not going to let Suzy go again. “If you marry me, I’ll make you two guarantees: life will be a great adventure and it will go by way too fast!” Indeed!
Rudy and Suzy welcomed daughter Annie Vedovell and son Rudy Vedovell III. They shared life and love with grandchildren Bailey and Trip Hofman. Rudy is also survived by a niece, Julie (Bob) Montgomery and a nephew, Stanford (Carole) Smith. He was preceeded in death by his parents, Rudy and Irene Vedovell, sister Joanne (Stanford) Smith and dear friend Joe Jannotta.
Rudy was a graduate of New Trier High School on the North Shore of Chicago. He was a graduate and passionate supporter of Purdue University. (“Go Boilermakers!”) Rudy was the founder and owner of Vedovell, Inc.
In Rudy’s own words, “If I don’t see you before, I’ll see you on top!”
A memorial service will be held at Christ Memorial Church – Sanctuary, Holland, Michigan, on Friday, April 25 at 2:00pm.
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