Charles (Chuck) Rudolph
November 17, 1934 - January 27, 2024
Charles (Chuck) Rudolph of Denver, Colorado passed away on January 27, 2024. Born in Santa Barbara, California to Harvey Rudolph and Helen Riggs Rudolph. Charles graduated from Santa Barbara High School in Santa Barbara. He continued post graduate education and graduated with three degrees from Stanford University.
Chuck enlisted in the Navy in 1959 and met Charla Baer while on shore leave in Los Angeles where Charla Baer was teaching Third grade. After a five-month courtship, they married in 1961. In time, two sons, Greg and Mark, joined the family. They lived in Hawaii, Illinois, Sacramento and Tustin before settling permanently in Denver in 1978.
Chuck worked extensively in the petroleum industry in California and Illinois. For close to 10 years, Chuck took a hiatus from the petroleum industry to assist a sick college friend by being General Manager for Fenwick Fishing Rods. Chuck returned to the petroleum industry with an interest in the real estate and brokerage aspects to finish off his career.
Beyond his devotion to his family, three pursuits inspired Chuck’s life: fishing, hunting and the Denver Mile High Rotary (DMHR). Chuck was a significant force at the DMHR for over a decade and was twice named the club Rotarian of the year. Chuck’s accomplishments as a dedicated Rotarian and leader of numerous glob-al water, sanitation, and health projects fly under the radar because he quietly raises money, writes grants and recruits volunteers for projects.
His love of water was not limited to fishing for west coast lobster, abalone and Ulua. Chuck also dedicated ten years to surfing and skin diving. When he enlisted to the Navy in 1959, he received a commission and training in finding and detonating explosives throughout US Pacific Territories. This allowed him to live at the famed surfing village of Mākaha, Hawaii. Chuck once told his fellow Rotarians “When the surf was up I surfed, when the surf wasn’t up, I could dive.”
Chuck and Charla often travelled to spend time with friends and family. Chuck particularly enjoyed these trips all over the world as well as numerous Rotary travels to Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Nepal.
Son Greg Rudolph preceded Chuck in death by 20 years. Chuck preceded the passing of his bride of 63 years, Charla Rudolph, by a mere 12 days. Chuck is survived by his son Mark Rudolph, his granddaughters Drew and Hana Rudolph, and sister Joan Oakley.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested in Chuck Rudolph’s name to Denver Mile High Rotary Foundation at https://www.coloradogives.org/organization/Denver-Mile-High-Rotary-Foundation.
Memorial services celebrating both Chuck and Charla’s lives will be held at 11am on April 12, 2024 at Montview Presbyterian Church located at 1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220 with a reception immediately following at the Denver Botanic Gardens located at 1007 York Street, Denver, CO 80206.
Make a Donation In Honor of Chuck
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested in Chuck Rudolph’s name to Denver Mile High Rotary Foundation.
Memorial Services
Friday, April 12, 2024
Montview Presbyterian Church
11 AM
1980 Dahlia Street
Denver, CO 80220
Reception to Follow
Denver Botanic Gardens
1007 York Street
Denver, CO 80206