A founding member of San Rafael’s Congregation Rodef Sholom, Sidney Rudy, has died.
Rudy, who served as the Reform synagogue’s second president, died April 9 in Kentfield. He was 93.
He was born Jan. 31, 1912 in San Francisco. His parents were Russian immigrants, and his father supported the family by working as a tailor.
Rudy attended U.C. Berkeley and then U.C. Berkeley’s Boalt Hall, graduating with a law degree in 1935. In 1939, he married Olga Winter.
Rudy was a founding partner in a law firm that later merged with another to become Hanson, Bridgett, Marcus, Vlahos & Rudy, which now has 125 lawyers. Though he specialized mostly in real estate and business law, he also represented a number of entertainers.
He also represented the developers of Pier 39, and when the commercial strip opened in 1981, the city named a nearby open-space area after him — the Sidney Rudy Waterfront Park.
As a young attorney, he worked in immigration law, helping to bring Jews fleeing Europe to this country.
In 1948, the Rudys moved to Marin County, where Rudy was one of three individuals who helped found Rodef Sholom, said his son Chuck Rudy of Kentfield.
“He and another fellow donated quite a bit of land for it, and he did most of the legal work, land negotiations and fund-raising,” his son said.
He also was involved in Israel Bonds, selling so many that he won the organization’s Ben-Gurion Award.
“He gave a lot, and imparted a lot of wisdom and Judaism to the family,” said his son Chuck Rudy. “He helped the community in many ways and was always home for dinner, which says a lot about somebody.”
Rudy was predeceased by his wife, Olga, four years ago. In addition to his son Chuck, he is survived by his daughter Barbara Schwartz of San Rafael and son Alan Rudy of Berkeley.
Donations can be made to Congregation Rodef Sholom, 170 N. San Pedro Rd., San Rafael, CA 94903 or Hospice of Marin, 17 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Larkspur, CA 94939.