Rudolph Marco Onderwyzer

1929 - 2017

October 10, 1929 - November 6, 2017 Rudolph Marco Onderwyzer passed away after a long battle fighting kidney cancer. He was able to celebrate his 88th birthday surrounded by family and friends on October 10th, 2017. He had three loves in his life. First, his beloved wife Sonya Onderwyzer who he first laid eyes on at UCLA and met at his first Jazz club he owned, where their love affair began. His second love was Jazz music. He owned three Jazz clubs in his early years. He was partners with Shelly Manne and in the 1960s opened Shelly's Manne-Hole on Cahuenga Blvd. in Hollywood, California. The Manne-Hole will continue to be remembered by the manhole placed in the sidewalk in front of its location by former Councilman Michael Woo. Mr. Onderwyzer was known for not caring about the racial background of the artist or acts that preformed in his clubs, but the purity of the music. And in the early '60s took criticism for it in the Hollywood community. From 1969-1983 Rudy owned The Lighthouse located in Hermosa Beach. Memories of the Lighthouse will be remembered by true Jazz followers and will always be imbedded in their lives. In 1983 Rudy sold The Lighthouse, to open Hop Singh's, in Marina Del Ray. In 1986 Hop Singh's closed. Always a Jazz and Blues purist, when the market changed, he retired as a Jazz club owner. Mr. Onderwyzer finished his employment career as a bookkeeper for Rudy's Lock and Key, where he was fondly known as Marco. He also worked part-time for the L.A. Times in the Polling Department for over ten years. Yet he was always a Jazz man until the end. He finally retired about 2002 and lived with his true love until she passed away on January 6th, 2012. He spent the remainder of his life in a quiet house in Hollywood, California, with his youngest child. Mr. Onderwyzer's third passion was his admiration and love for animals. As a child he had a few dogs, but made up for the lacking amount when he become an adult. He had over 15 dogs and 12 cats over his adult lifetime. He was blessed to have passed away at home with his pets and children by his side. The "Cat" is survived by his four children: Jed Onderwyzer, Julian Onderwyzer, Samantha Gould and Sarah Onderwyzer. As well as five grandchildren, two dogs and two cats. Rudolph and Sonya Onderwyzer were caring, brave and loving to their adopted four children of different ethnic backgrounds and raised them as their own children. His children were his pride and joy. He passed away knowing that his children grew up to be happy and healthy adults who have made their parents proud. He will be remembered by not only his children, but all the people whose lives his Jazz clubs and the music touched. You will be missed, Rudolph Marco Onderwyzer. Rest In Peace.