On Thursday the halls of Elder High School were saddened with the news that former teacher and athletic director Father Ed Rudemiller, more affectionately known as “Father Rudy”, had passed away.
His legend was built around his footwear—that’s right his footwear. Rudemiller played football and baseball and helped the Panthers basketball team as a student manager while at Elder. But it was a moment in 1973 that cemented his lore in Elder history.
As Bill Koch wrote in his 2002 book “The Pride of Price Hill” Fr. Rudy’s tradition of wearing green socks to athletic events started on St. Patrick’s Day. “After Bill Staubitz, then the sports editor at the weekly Western Hills Press, mentioned the socks in his story that week, Fr. Rudemiller was deluged in the mail with green socks. They became his trademark.”
How fitting it was that he passed away just one day after St. Patrick’s Day. His nephew, Dr. Mark Rudemiller, told the Enquirer, “He loved having fun. He was a party guy. He was German, but he acted more Irish. He loved sports. The saddest thing is, he won’t be able to see March Madness this year.”
Numerous Elder students and West Siders will gather next Monday at Elder High School to remember Fr. Rudy. His funeral mass will occur on Tuesday morning, and his last ride to the cemetery will take him right by the front doors of the school he loved so much.
“He loved life and always had a way of making people feel good,” Dr. Rudemiller said of his uncle. “He loved Elder High School. He loved the West Side.”
But most of all, one of his comments that is featured in Koch’s Elder book struck me today. Fr. Rudy told Koch, “It’s all about winning and losing. That’s what life is all about.”
Somehow, I find it hard to believe that. Elder Principal Tom Otten told the Enquirer, “He was an all-around neat guy who was respected by the parents, students, teaching staff and other schools. He really understood Catholic education in the best sense.”
“His favorite statement was, ‘All right, now here’s a lesson for you to learn from.’”
That might be a better life lesson. He may have worn green socks, but like so many others, Fr. Rudy bled purple, and he will definitely be missed at Elder High School.
His legend was built around his footwear—that’s right his footwear. Rudemiller played football and baseball and helped the Panthers basketball team as a student manager while at Elder. But it was a moment in 1973 that cemented his lore in Elder history.
As Bill Koch wrote in his 2002 book “The Pride of Price Hill” Fr. Rudy’s tradition of wearing green socks to athletic events started on St. Patrick’s Day. “After Bill Staubitz, then the sports editor at the weekly Western Hills Press, mentioned the socks in his story that week, Fr. Rudemiller was deluged in the mail with green socks. They became his trademark.”
How fitting it was that he passed away just one day after St. Patrick’s Day. His nephew, Dr. Mark Rudemiller, told the Enquirer, “He loved having fun. He was a party guy. He was German, but he acted more Irish. He loved sports. The saddest thing is, he won’t be able to see March Madness this year.”
Numerous Elder students and West Siders will gather next Monday at Elder High School to remember Fr. Rudy. His funeral mass will occur on Tuesday morning, and his last ride to the cemetery will take him right by the front doors of the school he loved so much.
“He loved life and always had a way of making people feel good,” Dr. Rudemiller said of his uncle. “He loved Elder High School. He loved the West Side.”
But most of all, one of his comments that is featured in Koch’s Elder book struck me today. Fr. Rudy told Koch, “It’s all about winning and losing. That’s what life is all about.”
Somehow, I find it hard to believe that. Elder Principal Tom Otten told the Enquirer, “He was an all-around neat guy who was respected by the parents, students, teaching staff and other schools. He really understood Catholic education in the best sense.”
“His favorite statement was, ‘All right, now here’s a lesson for you to learn from.’”
That might be a better life lesson. He may have worn green socks, but like so many others, Fr. Rudy bled purple, and he will definitely be missed at Elder High School.
“The Elder Alma Mater”
Elder High our Alma Mater,
Elder High our Alma Mater,
We will always love thy name,
And today we stand a body,
Ready to proclaim thy fame;
We are loyal to thy colors,
To the Purple and the White;
These reveal the Elder Spirit,
Teaching us what's true and right.
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