Birth date: Nov 21, 1955 Death date: Dec 28, 2025
Rudolph (Rudy) Howard Smith III, 70, of Spring Hill, Florida, passed away on December 28, 2025. Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Rudy grew up in Old Bridge before moving to Spring Hill in 1986. He graduated from Cedar Ridge High Read Obituary
Rudys passing was a hard one for me. I always thought of him as a younger brother to me. We first met in the 60s.when we were teenagers. In the 70s, we worked construction together for years. In the early 80s Rudy moved to Spring Hill Florida. I ended up moving to Tampa Bay in 1988 All through the years we kept in touched with each other we talked on the phone all the time.
I remember when he first started growing his beard when Obama was president and he said he wasn’t shaving until Obama was out of office lol I remember telling him Obama’s not President anymore shave that shit off your face. We work together again at In The News wood shop for years when Obama was president. I have lots of memories. Rudy was my longest friendship.
I had a special ring tone on my phone and I new when I answered it, he would always say “what are you doing”
Rudy was a true family man. He loved his family. His family was everything to him.
It took me a month and a half to come on here and write this.
I miss the hell out of you, Rudy
I lost other brother ,you were truly my best friend.
I pray someday we meet up again in afterlife and pick up where we left off.
Till then rest in peace, my brother 😢❤️.
Mike
Rudy growing up through the years.
What do I say about my brother, my rock, my best friend, my source of sanity in this chaotic life. I just want to pick up the phone and say "what are you doing"? That's how we started every phone call. We could talk for hours! We would talk about the past, like the story about the monkey, what we were doing for the day, what we were making for dinner, or where we were going to eat, and sometimes we would end the conversation with a long distance shot of Fireball. I so wished we weren't so far apart, I missed the days when we'd go out on the boat, prepare meals together then just sit with some cocktails and talk. Now I miss those phone calls, I will always miss them. Life will never be the same, I will never be the same. The long rides in the car are long and lonely now, I used to call you to kill time. Sundays seem to drag on forever since with no phone call. You could always pull me out of a dark place with a good laugh and your infectious, twisted sense of humor. I counted on that every single time.
I hope you hit those gold streets on two wheels
Hope your mansion in the sky's got a ten-acre field
With some mud and some hubs, you can lock in
Make some thunder, make 'em wonder how you got in
Hide your beer, hide your clear from the Man upstairs
Crank it loud, hold it down 'til I get there
And when I do, I hope you got some new stories to tell
'Til then, give Heaven some hell
"Give Heaven Some Hell" By Hardy
Just one of our great memories.....Had so many..You will be missed..We love you
Hearing about Rudy's passing after all these years brought back a flood of memories from our teenage days back in Old Bridge, NJ in the 1970s. The 711 gang !! They were the cool guys! Though we lost touch long ago, it’s clear he lived a rich and meaningful life. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. May he rest in peace,
Colleen Hussey-Brown
There are so many memories and good times with Rudy and you Lori! He's forever in our hearts!
