Robert Curtiss Rude, a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at age 96 in South Yarmouth, MA. He was born in Weedsport, NY, to Florence and Harry Rude; and raised in Port Byron, NY. He graduated from the Port Byron Central School District in June of 1944 and entered the US Army in December of that year. He served in Germany and Austria as part of the Army of Occupation in 1945 and 1946; becoming the HQ clerk of a Combat Engineering Battalion, before being honorably discharged with the rank of Technical Sergeant.

Robert attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) thanks to earning a NY State Regents scholarship and the GI Bill; graduating in 1950 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Immediately after which he began working for the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, NY; which employed him in various positions (Lincoln Plant, Film Testing Services, among others) until retirement in 1984.

In 1951, Robert met Eleanor Stoddard, along with her best friend Joyce Measor, on a blind date. Robert married Eleanor in 1952. They purchased a home in Irondequoit, NY. Then, in 1955, Kodak transferred them to Palo Alto, CA, where sons Curtiss and James were born. In 1958, they returned to Irondequoit when Eleanor was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). His beloved Eleanor tragically died later that year.

Robert married Joyce Measor in 1959. They increased their family with three more children: David, Nancy, and Paul. The loving couple lived in Irondequoit for the next 60 years; either at their home on Colebrook Drive or at Chapel Oaks Retirement Community; to which they moved in 2014. When his adored Joyce passed away in 2019, Robert moved to Thirwood Place on Cape Cod near his daughter, Nancy.

Robert actively participated at Summerville Presbyterian Church for over fifty years; as congregant, deacon, elder, bible study member, and general helper. He strongly supported Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts as assistant troop leader and an actively engaged parent for his sons; attending numerous campouts, multiple canoe trips, and several week long summer sessions at Massawepie Scout Camp. Robert’s hobbies, most shared with Joyce, included reading (history, biographies, and crime novels), writing memoirs, recording family genealogy and history, spending summer, fall, and winter weekends at the family cabin in the Adirondacks, playing musical instruments (trombone, baritone horn, and piano) at home or with the town band, skiing, traveling, socializing with friends, and putting his engineering skills to use in fixing things.

His greatest legacy is his example of graceful living. Family and friends admired his heartfelt devotion as a loving husband and parent; matched with his thoughtful, honest, patient, good humored, and respectful presence.

Robert’s surviving family includes son Curtiss Rude and his wife Suzanne of Loudon, NH; son James Rude and his wife Kathleen of Cromwell, CT; son David Rude and his partner Pamela Weed-Nichols of Norwood, NY; daughter Nancy Magnuson and her husband Phil of Brewster, MA; and son Paul Rude and his wife Rebecca of Silver Spring, MD. Robert's surviving grandchildren include Rachel Pollier, husband Michael and their children Gabriel and Maverick (Spencer, MA); Valerie Blais and husband Peter (Hillsborough, NH); Aaron Rude,wife Angela and their children Eloise and Lily (Larchmont, NY); Elizabeth Joseph, husband Johnathan and their children Zoey and Julian (Simsbury, CT); and Keira and Charlotte Rude (Silver Spring, MD).

A memorial service will be held at 1pm on Saturday, December 10th at Brewster Baptist Church, 1848 Main St, Brewster, MA . Donations in memory of Robert can be made to Dennis Memorial Library, Old Bass River Rd, Dennis, MA, or to the Summerville Presbyterian Church, St. Paul Blvd, Rochester, NY, or the Polly Higgins Scholarship Fund of Thirwood Place, N. Main St, S. Yarmouth, MA.

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