Rudolph A. Oswald

1932 - 2022

OSWALD

Rudolph A. OSWALD "Rudy"

Rudolph Oswald of Potomac, MD, died September 28, 2022, at the age of 90. Born in Milwaukee, WI, on August 4, 1932, to Carl and Anny Oswald, he attended Marquette College High School, and graduated in 1954 from Holy Cross College. He was a Fulbright Scholar to the University of Munich, received his Master's Degree in industrial relations from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and his Ph.D. in economics from Georgetown University. He also served in the U.S. Army.

He served as the economic research director for the Service Employees' International Union from 1972 to 1975 and then as chief economist and research director for the AFL-CIO from 1976 to 1996. He also served on a number of government advisory committees on workforce training, taxes, trade, and minimum wage policy, and on numerous boards including the National Bureau of Economic Research. He also authored numerous academic articles on labor policy.

Following his retirement, Rudy continued to travel extensively and stayed active in his community, working with the United Way, as a eucharistic minister at his church, and with the local Meals on Wheels program well into his 80s.

Rudy was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Ellen Oswald, and his brother, Charles Oswald. He is survived by his wife Mary Louise Oswald (nèe Hurney), his son Stephen Oswald (Mary), daughters Mary Foley (Kyle), Kathleen Vaught (Bob), and Julie Medich (Bill); grandchildren Liz Marten (David), Bill Oswald (Kathleen), Tim Oswald (Christine), Kate Vaught, Robert Vaught, Will Vaught, Megan Foley, Matthew Foley, Claire Foley, Lauren Medich, and Emily Medich; and eight great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, October 4, at 9 a.m. at St. Elizabeth's Church, Rockville, MD., 917 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852. A reception will follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to So Others Might Eat, 71 O Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, some@some.org