A longtime resident of Maplewood and proud member of the “Greatest Generation,” Rudolph Vincent Marzano (Rudy) passed away on December 4, 2023. A Memorial Mass will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect Street, South Orange on Saturday, January 6 at 10:00 AM.
Rudy was born in Newark, New Jersey and lived for over 40 years in Maplewood before moving to Point Pleasant for seven years. Missing Maplewood and his friends, he moved back to Maplewood in 2008 and lived here until his death.
As a child Rudy was a renowned soprano soloist traveling the east coast with a choir group -The Crusade Union Boy Singers of New York City. Rudy was a Naval Veteran of WWII, attended Rutgers University on the GI bill, and graduated with a degree in Journalism in 1951. He later received a Masters Degree in History from Seton Hall University in 1969.
His career as a journalist began with Rudy landing a job with The Newark Evening News. He became the front page reporter and in 1956 at the age of 29, had the honor of interviewing Eleanor Roosevelt in Maplewood where he would eventually move and raise his eight children. He then worked for Shearing Plough and Western Electric, before accepting a position at AT&T in Public Relations at 195 Broadway in New York City where he worked for over 20 years. There he covered the historic breakup of the Bell Operating Companies from AT&T and spent many days in DC attending the court proceedings.
Rudy was not one for retirement and after leaving AT&T he focused on his passion – The Brooklyn Dodgers. He authored and published three books chronicling the historic events from that era including Jackie Robinson, the first evening games and the installation of the padded walls changing the game forever. He enjoyed interviewing the players and he approached writing his books with the same vigor he did researching his newspaper articles.
Rudy had an exceptional singing voice, played the piano and loved pianist Dave McKenna. He and his wife Betty often stayed at the Copley Plaza in Boston to watch him play. On Rudy and Betty’s fortieth anniversary as a surprise his children hired Dave McKenna to fly down and play at their home on Summit Ave.
Betty and Rudy Marzano
Rudy was predeceased by his beloved wife of more than 60 years whom he adored, Elizabeth Callan Marzano, who referred to him as “Himself”, and his son John Marzano. He is survived by children Barbara, James, Mary and her husband Todd Illingworth, Ann Bauer, and her husband Jurgens Bauer, Elizabeth Trowbridge and her husband Brad Trowbridge, Ruth, Jane, Ellen Marzano and her husband Ben Chisvette. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren, Emily and Scott Trowbridge, Callan Bauer, John Patin and Cavan Illingworth.
In lieu of flowers donations to The Society House – A wonderful assisted living facility at 328 E Mt Pleasant Ave Livingston NJ 07039.
For more information or to send condolences please visit jacobhollefuneralhome.com
