A TRIBUTE TO "UNCLE RUDY" VALENTINO

This episode of the R. J. Harris Breakfast Show is a heartwarming tribute to a remarkable individual, Uncle Rudy, a beloved fixture at Valentino's restaurant in Lancaster. Listeners will be inspired by the incredible story of a man who led a life full of adventure, service, and achievement.

Holly shares Uncle Rudy's impressive military career, including his service in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, where he was a command pilot and expert weapons officer. But that's not all - Uncle Rudy was also a decorated athlete, earning nine varsity letters in gymnastics, swimming, and cheerleading at Penn State. His impressive resume also includes a stint on the US Bobsled team at the World Championships in Switzerland.

As we reflect on Uncle Rudy's life, it becomes clear that this was a man who lived a life of service to his country and his community. From his time in the military to his later years as a fixture at Valentino's, Uncle Rudy's impact on those around him was profound.

Tune in to hear the full story of Uncle Rudy's remarkable life and the lessons we can learn from his experiences.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Seven o nine nine after It's the R. J. Harris
Breakfast Show with Holly Love and Bill Mead, and we
played Sinatra because it's the era of Rudy Valentino, right, absolutely,
So we talked about Rudy the other day passed away.

(00:21):
Give us the thumbnail of who he was and why
we know him, and then we'll talk about how we served.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Okay, So, Rudy Valentino came over with his parents and
they opened this restaurant that I go to all the time. Now,
it's been several different things before it became Valentinos as
we know it today.

Speaker 3 (00:43):
Him and his brother ran it.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
Daughter Deb, not Rudy's daughter, but John, his older or
his other brother's daughter. Deb runs it with her daughter Lindsay.
Now so still in the family over eighty five years. Wow,
as we all know of some Valentino's.

Speaker 1 (01:01):
Time well, and and staple A lot of people you
know have gone there with you.

Speaker 3 (01:05):
So oh yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
The staple of Valentinos though for as long as I've
been going in there is Uncle Rudy.

Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah, and that's what everybody calls him. And Uncle Rudy.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
He lives next door, lived next door, and every day
I guess around two or three o'clock, came in, threw
on Fox News, got a glass of orange juice, ate
a slice of provolone cheese or whatever he was going
to eat, and eat sat there.

Speaker 3 (01:30):
That's good by himself.

Speaker 2 (01:32):
Did you know read the newspaper, watch the news, did
his thing?

Speaker 3 (01:35):
So and how old was he when he pass ninety seven?

Speaker 4 (01:38):
Wow? And he served in two wars.

Speaker 2 (01:41):
Correct Korean and Vietnam. Okay, So, but what's remarkable. And
I've obviously talked to Uncle Rudy over the years. Many
of times I've had Tom Russell sat down and talked
to him. You know, I've had other people sit down
and talk to him, and everybody always walks away going
did you know that.

Speaker 3 (01:57):
He did blah blah?

Speaker 2 (01:59):
So last night was the viewing, and you know, and
I knew bits and pieces, but then I'm reading the
obituary and it's just remarkable. So he enlisted in the
US Naval Reserves while attending Penn State. Now he graduated
from ACCASKI, So he's the likeaser guy graduated. He was
at Penn State and in nineteen fifty one he went

(02:21):
to the Navies. He was commissioned to the Air Force
and served from nineteen fifty one to nineteen seventy five
during Korean and Vietnam Wars as a command pilot, expert
weapons officer, US Government contracting officer, flight operations commander of
various units. And then after you know, you see all this,

(02:44):
then you learn that he had a damaged plane while
he was flying.

Speaker 4 (02:48):
Wow, and was.

Speaker 3 (02:49):
Given the Distinguished Flying Cross for herism.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
So that's incredible, incredible, And then it goes on to
say that he was a part of the US Bob
sled team at the World Championships in Switzerland.

Speaker 4 (03:04):
Wow. Wow, that is diverse.

Speaker 2 (03:07):
And then the Air Force Bob sled team in the
Olympic Trials.

Speaker 4 (03:11):
WHOA, that's great.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
Finally he does get his degree in Masters of Education
from Millersville, but at Penn State he earned nine varsity
letters in gymnastics, swimming, and cheerleading. So last night in them,
you know, for the viewing, they had this all on display.
That's cool, and I showed you guys this sweater from

(03:35):
nineteen fifty one from Benn State.

Speaker 3 (03:38):
It's it's in perfect condition.

Speaker 2 (03:40):
So just a remarkable person, so many, so many honors, right, and.

Speaker 3 (03:46):
I knew him as the little old uncle Rudy sitting.

Speaker 4 (03:49):
Sitting in the bar drinking. That's the way it is
with a lot of people though, so humbled.

Speaker 1 (03:55):
Yeah, we learn how they had remarkable lives oft times
after they're gone, you know, sadly.

Speaker 4 (04:04):
How many times have you heard a little bit and
said I wish I knew that when he was alive?

Speaker 2 (04:07):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, but people do people do in Lancaster,
and people that are Valentinos, people know the accomplishments. They're
also hanging on the walls. Bill, you saw some of
that stuff when I take you to Valentino's. Some of
his accomplishments are up there. But yeah, just a wonderful
viewing last night. Services are today and just oh and

(04:28):
I think you guys will both appreciate this. He's going
to be buried at Arlington.

Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah, that is tremendous. That's true because they've really cut
back on that. So it is an honor, meaning that
there's some that were going to be buried in Arlington
that have now been told they cannot be. Okay, so
to put him there I think speaks volumes about his

(04:54):
service to our country.

Speaker 2 (04:55):
So when he retired, Bill, he would have been or
you guys would know this, lieutenant colonel.

Speaker 4 (05:00):
Colonel, yeah, because I was.

Speaker 1 (05:01):
I saw one of the pictures you took and there
was lieutenant colonel's rank insignty.

Speaker 4 (05:05):
On his hat.

Speaker 3 (05:07):
Very much rest in peace.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, thank you for your service and thank you for
our Valentinos.

Speaker 4 (05:14):
I love it there, Yes, you do, all right. Seven
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