At age 16, Rudy’s family immigrated from Italy to Loveland, Ohio where he attended high school and learned to speak English. He helped his parents assimilate to American culture.
Rudy was a gifted soccer player. While in high school, he played soccer for the Italian American team. He graduated from the Rochester Art Institute where he continued his art education and sharpened his creative skills. Rudy was an abstract artist and created many paintings and sculptures displaying his unique artistic talent.
Rudy also carried on his family legacy as a pyro technician like his father and grandfather. He worked in the firework industry for many years.
He married Teodolinda (Diodato) Siciliano and had four children while living in Rochester, New York. Eventually, Rudy moved his family to Hendersonville, Tennessee where he worked as a graphic design artist.
Throughout his life, Rudy enjoyed ballroom dancing, gardening, and cooking while listening to classical music. As he grew older and became less mobile, he continued to joyfully work on his paintings and sculptures.
Rudy is predeceased by his parents, Antonio Siciliano and Rosaria Montanaro and his older brother Geremia who died at a young age in the hills of Pignataro Maggiore.
He is survived by Teodolinda Siciliano and his four children Rosalinda Rayman (Steve), Valerie Siciliano Laura (Michael), Jennifer Nicole Lee (Edward), and John (Johnny) Rudolph Siciliano and his younger brother Geremia Siciliano who was named after their older brother who passed away as a child. Rudy is also survived by his seven grandchildren, Justin Lee Rayman, Jared Lee Rayman, Jaden Byron Lee, Dylan Edward Lee, Gia Lilliani Laura, Roman Nicholas Laura, and Natalia Valentina Siciliano.
We love our father very much and expect him to be in heaven dancing, creating beautiful art, telling “dad” jokes, smiling, and spreading his contagious jovial spirit.
An intimate family graveside service will be held at Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Jewish Home Life Organization affiliated with The Zaban Towers where Rudy resided during his golden years. (https://www.jewishhomelife.org/
