Rodolfo Frank Figueroa September 20, 1935 – March 17, 2018 Share this obituary Send Flowers Send Sympathy Card Mr. Rodolfo Frank “Rudy” Figueroa, age 82, of Hilo, Hawaii, died March 14, 2018 at his residence in Hilo. He was born in Arizona on September 20, 1935 and was a retired life insurance salesman and United States Army Veteran. His family remembers him as follows: I wanted to share my dad with you and a few pics of him (youngest of 3 boys).
He was born in 1935 in Arizona, and later moved to Los Angeles where he grew up in the Watts of the late 30’s, 40’s and 50’s; voted 1955 Stanford University MVP 3rd base, Stanford team captain (1957); played shortstop for three affiliates of the Baltimore Oreole’s (1958-59 minor leagues) and served as an officer in the U.S. Army. After the Army he got a job selling bowling supplies where he met my mother, Gloria Lau’a’e Estores, when she was the manager of the bowling alley at Hickam Air Force Base. He loved the old school jazz and….
he played the trombone. I am the fourth of six children, two boys, four girls, all born on Oahu Island. My dad was a Dallas Cowboy fan and he taught me to understand the rules of the game of football at a very early age.
He also taught me how to play like a “major league” catcher (Johnny Bench! ). Because of him, my closest elder sister in age and I played for Hawaii Kai and North Irvine (CA) Bobby Sox All-Stars.
We were a pitcher (my sister Carla) and catcher combination. My dad encouraged us all to live healthy lives and to do well in school. He came from very humble beginnings and taught his children that in the eyes and heart of God, everyone, without exception, is equal and all are loved by Him.
I’ll be burying him this Friday, March 1, 2019 at Alae Cemetery on the big island of Hawaii – Hamakua Coast. The links below are a few songs from the music of his time: Music (and scenes) from the famous, classic Italian film “La Strada” by Federico Fellini( a sad and haunting film about an orphan girl too old to stay at the convent, and sent out into the world with a street performer/strongman/breaker of chains). My dad would let me stay up late to watch it with him every time it came on t.v. www.
youtube.com/watch? v=_vIvjl4H524 Gelsomina from La Strada, by Federico Fellini (1954) Giulietta Masina interprets Gelsomina in the Academy Award winning movie “La Strada”, written and directed by the italian director superstar Federico Fellini www. youtube.com My dad had a laugh that made you giggle in spite of yourself, and he was so very charming.
This song reminds me of how he was both as a young man and older: www. youtube.com/watch? v=PHdU5sHigYQ Dave Brubeck – Take Five ( Original Video) Dave Brubeck – Take Five ( Original Video) www.
youtube.com and, he sang me to sleep with: www. youtube.com/watch? v=HLQZZoAkdig Nat King Cole.
Red Sails In The Sunset. 1957. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research, Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing, Non-profit, education or personal use tips the balance in favor of … www.
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