Rudolf Ruediger Lefin's Obituary
Mr. Rudolf Ruediger Lefin, 86, of Hudson, FL passed away on July 20, 2022. He was born October 20, 1935 in Munich, Germany. During and after World War II, Rudi’s family faced many challenges ultimately immigrating to the US in 1951. They settled in Oneonta, New York. While working for St Clare’s Hospital in Schenectady, he met the love of his life, Ingeborg. They were married September 16, 1957. Inge passed away on July 17, 2020. They had been married 62 years.
Rudi earned his Mechanical Engineering degree through 13 years of night school after which he grew a large engineering office while with United Engineers in Philadelphia. Rudi’s charisma, gentle heart, and spiritual nature put people at ease from the moment they would meet him. He was a man with many qualities that have become rare in this day and age. His final wish was to pass in peace at home with his loved ones. He was gracious, kind, intelligent, a religious man, selfless and a family man to the core.
He is preceded in death by his parents Josef and Katrina (Kitty), his wife Inge, and his brother John. Rudi is survived by his son David Lefin and his wife Debra; daughter Christina Schilstra and her husband Paul; daughter Marcella Gaughan and her husband Kevin; son Andrew Lefin and his wife Karla; brother Avis and his wife Lynn; grandchildren William, Emily and her husband Ryan, Abigail, Clarissa and her husband Eren, Erik, Ryan, Wesley, Jonathan, Julia, Zachary, and Rachel; great-grandchildren Remington and Enver; and several nieces and nephews.
Per Rudi's wishes, there will be no public services. His cremated remains will be interred in the Fountain Niches at Grace Memorial Gardens, behind the gazebo. The family would welcome you to come and pay your respects privately.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy take the form of memorial donations to: Hospice (https://lifepathhospice.chaptershealth.org/HPHGeneralDonation https://hospicefoundation.org/Donate)
American Lung Association (https://www.lung.org)
or Rotary Clubs (https://my.rotary.org/en/donate)
What’s your fondest memory of Rudolf?
What’s a lesson you learned from Rudolf?
Share a story where Rudolf's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Rudolf you’ll never forget.
How did Rudolf make you smile?

