Sylvester Raymond "Ray" Rudolph

Sylvester Raymond Rudolph was born on January 28, 1930 in St Cloud, MN to John Frank and Mary (nee Winskowski) Rudolph. He grew up on the family farm in Pierz, MN. He was the first born of nine children and was quickly joined by Angeline (deceased), Alvina (deceased), Mary Ann (deceased), Max (deceased), Phyllis, Betty Jean, William and Rosalynn. He remained close to all of his brothers and sisters until his death. He was called Sylvester by his family until Mary Ann came along and could not pronounce Sylvester and dubbed him "Slive". Forever after, that is how his siblings addressed him.

Upon graduating from high school his parents decided that as the first born male in the family he would become a priest. Without discussing this decision, he was delivered to St John's College where he lasted exactly three days. He had only been away from home for fishing, hunting and rafting adventures with his family, especially his beloved Uncle Johnny. He became dreadfully homesick and arrived home; by Greyhound bus, in time to pick up his letter of despair from the mailbox as he walked up the long driveway to the family home. Instead of college he attended trade school training courses which prepared him for his lifelong career of engineering and maintenance endeavors. Working with his hands and problem solving was his true avocation.

He was drafted into the United States Army in December, 1953 and travelled by ship under the Golden Gate Bridge to see action in Korea. He shared very little about Korea except to describe his participation with the U S Army Far East Rifle and Pistol Team. Having grown up on the farm he had become an excellent marksman and enjoyed travelling all over Korea and Japan in competitive events. While serving in Korea he earned the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal and Korean Service Ribbon. Although encouraged to re-up and make the Army his career he was a farmer and family man at heart and returned to civilian life in December, 1955. Again travelling UNDER the Golden Gate Bridge.

In 1959 he relocated to Seattle, leaving ice, snow and mosquitoes in Minnesota. He explored many career positions, including the Seattle Police Force, but working with his hands and repairing, maintaining and being involved with equipment was his true love. And on March 24, 1967 he found his perfect niche. He went to work as a member of the Virginia Mason Hospital Maintenance and Engineering Department. The challenge of a 24/7/365 environment was his genuine calling. His Director, Clarence Rolph, looked at him and said "you don't look like a Sylvester; I think we will call you Ray. And Ray he became and remained. He was honored to be recognized with the award of Employee of the Year in 1971. He became Assistant Chief of the Engineering department and in 1984 was promoted to Chief Engineer. He loved working at the hospital. The burden of being on call at all times was never a complaint...except on Super Bowl Sunday when the on duty engineer was unable to locate the source of an electrical fault that shut down half of the complex. Ray and Morris crawled under many machines in many, many cubicles and tested many panels until Ray found a shorting out typewriter...and had missed the football game! To Ray, Super Bowl was better than Christmas or birthday! But he did not complain. At least to anyone who would hear him?

Ray was approached by one of the doctors on staff about providing maintenance support to an apartment complex he owned, and in 1970 Ray began a 38 year association with the 110 unit building now known as Sutton Place Condominiums. His love of fixing, repairing, and problem-solving provided him with tremendous satisfaction. His life philosophy of repairing, re-using and re-purposing (learned during the depression era he was raised in) was well-presented at Sutton Place and throughout his entire life. If it was broken it had to mended and paired NOW. It broke his heart if something truly reached the end of its useful life and could not be repaired.

In July, 1981 Ray was introduced to Rhea Lutton due to a broken ice-machine within the hospital complex. Their introduction blossomed into a genuine romance. In January , 1982 Ray attended an air-conditioning training course in San Francisco which allowed him the opportunity to drive OVER the Golden Gate Bridge, not once, but THREE times. He was ecstatic!!

In 1984 Ray and Rhea took over a property which belonged to her family located in Index, WA. This was a source of genuine pleasure and provided a retreat that Ray treasured until his health began to fail in 2008. His love of fixing, repairing and gardening (he grew tomatoes, beans, garlic and even flowers!) was fully expressed at what became "Ray's house". He loved the sound of the river and the peacefulness that the remote, small town provided.

In 1992, amid the chaos of budget constraint s and early changes to health care delivery systems, Ray decided to retire. April 1, 1992 was his chosen departure date. He was very proud of his 25 years of service to Virginia Mason Medical Center. And he continued to speak warmly of his years of service until his death. He was always pleased when he was recognized by staff who remembered him from his "working days" when he visited VM during his medical visits.

Ray and Rhea married on October 9, 1992 the wedding presided over by Dianna Cox, Spiritual Care Associate at Virginia Mason. The ceremony was held at the Caroline Kline-Galland Mansion owned by Sound Mental Health, where Rhea has served on the Board of Directors since July, 1981. It was a melding of two long-established relationships for both parties.

Ray continued his part-time repair activities with Sutton Place and other clients until July, 2008 when he underwent the first of many surgeries to address serious vascular compromises. Surgery after surgery was followed by periods of determined rehabilitation and exercise. Even after above the knee amputation he was determined to walk again. The legion of doctors, surgeons, nurses, specialists and therapists that attended him were surprised by his positive attitude and determination. To each, all and every one of them we can only express sincere gratitude. He was always treated with respect, kindness and courtesy.

At the last, he simply did not have the ability to be the "come back" kid one more time. The last four months were really difficult; the final six weeks were simply too much for him to recover from. On a quiet Wednesday afternoon, March 14, 2012, just before a care-planning conference scheduled at Virginia Mason's CCU unit, he slipped away - Quietly and peacefully with no struggle, no pain...just release.

So, please think warmly of a very kind and gentle man who was always shy and naïve in his heart. Who expected no accolades or celebrations? Who made the lives of everyone he met a little bit richer, a little more special and always valued and respected.