Rudolph Nathaniel Valentine

Rudolph Nathaniel Valentine was born in New York on May 28, 1949. He was the first of four children born from the union of Rudolph and Sylvia Valentine. Rudy, as he was lovingly known, grew up in the Soundview section of the Bronx. During his early years, he was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in the Bronx where he served as an altar boy. Rudy attended the prestigious Music and Art High School, where he played the bass fiddle. After graduation, he entered the Military where he served a total of 20 years, between the Navy, as a photographer and the Air National Guard. During those years, Rudy also attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Long Island University, and Queens College, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree, two Masters, and a doctorate of Jurisprudence. Rudy loved music and sports. He played handball, racquetball, and chess. Rudy and his brother Clyde were quite competitive in their sports challenges and would sometimes take videos of their escapades just so that each of them could remember who really won the last game. Rudy was a retired Correction Officer, where he advanced to the rank of Captain at New York’s Riker’s Island facility. Post retirement, he served many years as a substitute teacher in the NYC school system in the Bronx. Rudy has a daughter, Chesne Michelle Valentine, who was his heart. His home is full of pictures and mementos of her, demonstrating his love for her and how she was constantly in his thoughts. Rudy had a heart of gold. He gave freely without looking for a return and often, people and places were better off after an interaction with him. For example, he would not only encourage you to finish school, but he would help pay for it. Or if your apartment needed repairs, he would fix it or redecorate the whole thing! Rudy left an indelible mark wherever he went. Rudy leaves behind his mother, Sylvia Valentine, his beloved daughter Chesne and her mom, Sharon Fields, two sisters, Sheryl Valentine and Claudette Fisher, his brother-in-law, Michael Fisher, High School classmates, a host of friends, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins, and many others, who will miss him dearly. We love you Rudy. You can rest now. Job well done!

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