Rudolf F. Rolla

Rudolf (Rudi) F. Rolla, 93, died at Emerson Hospital on July 23, 2014. Mr. Rolla was born in Oslonin, Poland, son of the late Johannes and Margarete Rolla. At 16, Rudolf "with an F" as he would say, was sent away to a Pastry Chef apprenticeship. Though his first love was the Violin, and music, he complied and learned his lifelong trade at which he later excelled. He was drafted into the German Army during WWII, serving in the 6th army on the Russian front where he was critically wounded with a severe back injury resulting in a fortuitous discharge from further military Service. Rudi was an accomplished self-taught musician. In his younger years in Germany he played Violin in his small band, entertaining at dances and parties. In later years he could occasionally be heard playing the Violin, Mandolin, Accordion, and Piano from his front porch. Give him any instrument and he could make it sing. Rudi met his wife Margret, in her home village where his band was playing. They were married in 1948. The Rolla's escaped the German Russian Zone and settled in what became West Germany after the war. In 1957, with a wife, two small children, two trunks, $200 and no command of the English language, they boarded the S.S. United States in Bremerhaven, immigrating to what he called "The Land of Opportunity". On board the S.S. United States, the couple won the New Years Eve dance contests. Mr. Rolla has been a resident of Maynard since 1958 and proudly became an American citizen in January 1963 during the Kennedy Administration. President Kennedy's portrait was prominent at the Rolla home and became even more endearing after he was assassinated on November 22, 1963, exactly 15 years to the day after Rudi and Margret's wedding anniversary in 1948. Rudi worked for years as a pastry chef at the Finnish United Cooperative Society of Maynard. In 1976, while in the employ of Seiler Corporation, his European pastries garnered First Place in a culinary competition that encompassed all of New England. His last position prior to retirement was as senior pastry chef at the Kresge Hall at Harvard University's School of Business, where at one time he met and spoke with the Chancellor of Germany, who after identifying the distinct trademarks of this German Pastry Chef, requested to meet with him. Rudi retired as an Officer of Harvard University. Rudi had many hobbies. He loved nature and the outdoors, fishing, camping, hunting and traveling. He was a prolific gardener whose flower gardens were stunning and vegetable gardens were bursting. He was also a skilled wood craftsman, building many beautiful pieces of furniture. He enjoyed birding, and mimicking bird calls. He loved the Robin, and his Beautiful German Shepherds. In recent years, at both Christopher Heights and Life Care of Acton he could often be heard as the strongest voice in their community sing-a-longs. Mr. Rolla was a member of St Bridget's Church and well liked in the community. Rudi is predeceased by his wife Margret and leaves two sons, Hans J. Rolla and wife Joanne of Leominster, Michael P Rolla and wife Dawn of Maynard, daughter, Sabine M. Hedberg and husband Bill of Rockport MA, his longtime friend and partner, Barbara Iannarelli, and seven grandchildren, Nathan Hedberg of Somerville, Meagan Cotter of Marlborough, Heidi Rolla of Leominster, Maggie Rolla of Hardwick, Kellsie Rolla of Nashua NH, RaeAnn Rolla of Newton and Mitchell Rolla of Maynard. Relatives and friends are invited to a funeral Mass on Saturday August 2 at 9:00am in St. Bridget's Church 1 Percival Street Maynard. Burial will follow in St. Bridget's Cemetery, Great Road (Rte 117) Maynard. In lieu of flowers, we would like you to consider visiting a local Nursing Home and making some new friends. Donations can be made to Unicef.org Memorial page www.actonfuneralhome.com