Herbert Finley Rudd II

1947 - 2020

Herbert Finley Rudd II age 73, died December 28, 2020 in Bethesda, Maryland of a malignant arrhythmia occurring unexpectedly while recovering from COVID-19. Finn was born on June 7, 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio to Mary Carolyn Clausen Rudd and Ralph Corlies Rudd.Finn graduated from Willoughby South High School in 1965. He was on the football and wrestling teams, and was student council president his senior year. He went on to Oberlin College, earning his bachelor's degree in French. He obtained his master’s in Economics from American University in Washington, DC. Raised a Quaker, he was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, as was his father during World War II, and he served his country with distinction and dedication in the US Department of Agriculture until his retirement in Fall 2000.He worked as an Agricultural Economist and Foreign Service Officer in the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. He was a lifelong language learner, fluent in Portuguese and French, and nearly fluent in Spanish, Russian, and Italian. He used these languages in his career and in life whenever he could. His diplomatic postings took him to the Congo (former Zaire), the USSR, Italy, Belgium, France and Brazil. Across his three decades with FAS, he estimated Soviet crop yields during the cold war, assisted with negotiating tariff agreements, and helped open foreign markets for various US agri-products. After his retirement from the FAS, he tried his hand as an import/export consultant, real estate agent, and limo driver, before settling into a career with Giant Food and Giant Gas-a job which he approached with the same dedication, precision, and verve as his former career, caring and helping all along the way.Finn was a loving and caring father and an example to his five children who are grateful to have, know and respect each other so much. He was also able to show his rich and friendly nature with his five grandchildren and this brought him great joy. He loved reading to his grandchildren. He managed to be a supportive father, husband, grandfather, brother and much-loved son to his large family, despite a career which sent him around the world and through various personal and family challenges. He always moved forward constructively and will always be an example to his children.Finn had a lifelong passion for electronics and computers. He bought one of the first TI pocket calculators in the 70s, and let his sons play with it on long road trips. He bought an early Apple Macintosh computer and brought it along on vacation. Before the Internet, he enjoyed listening to shortwave radio broadcasts from around the world.He was avidly aware of global and national events and always open-minded and curious. He cared deeply for freedom of speech, civil liberties, equality and human dignity. He is also remembered for his humility and unflagging generosity. He was knowledgeable in the sciences, loved nature, and had a quick wit and a boisterous laugh. His sharp memory led him to recount life stories, dates, and names of people he met with great accuracy and specificity. H e was appreciated for problem-solving and creativity, at home and in his work.To say that Finn enjoyed travelling would be an understatement. On his last big trip, in the summer of 2019, he was able to travel solo in the Azores and France after spending two weeks in Italy with all of his kids and grandkids on a family trip which he often described as heavenly. He was happiest when surrounded by his children and entire family. He enjoyed mountains, a hike in the woods, a long drive, and windsurfing.Finn is survived by his five children, Colin(Helena), Jeremy(Yumi), Nicolas, Krista, and Kevin, three grandsons and two granddaughters, former wives Franceline Davies and Ursula Rudd, and his three sisters, Darnell Rudd Mandelblatt, Corlies Rudd Delf, and Rachel Rudd Christensen. Finn strove to be practical and optimistic, and approached the world with joy. Though his family is deeply saddened by his untimely passing, we are comforted to know that he passed with little suffering and in high spirits.Finn was always quick to make friends from all walks of life, and he was concerned about the people around him. He was keenly aware of injustice and hardship. He had a particular soft spot for the homeless. Contributions in his memory may be made to The Community for Creative Non-Violence, 425 Mitch Snyder Place (2nd Street) NW, Washington, DC 20001. In this time of dire need, Finn would have been pleased to know that people stepped up to help those who need it most.A Zoom gathering to remember Finn will be held in late February. If you knew Finn and would like to attend, please email the family at finnr2020@aol.com to request the meeting link. A private interment will be planned at a later date.