Gilbert “Gibby” F. Rudd Jr., 65 of Dalton, passed away Feb. 28 at Berkshire Medical Center after a battle with cancer. Gibby was born Sept. 22, 1952, the second of five children, to Gilbert F. Rudd and Gilda J. “Didi” Brignolo Rudd. He was educated in Dalton public schools and graduated from Wahconah Regional High School in 1970. He later graduated from Berkshire Community College with a degree in environmental science in 1976. He was employed by the city of Pittsfield, working at its wastewater and water treatment plants until 1998, the year he was honored to become the water department superintendent in Dalton until his retirement in 2016.
Gibby married his wife, Ann M. O’Loughlin, June 12, 1982, in a backyard ceremony at his parents’ home. He often said it was one of the happiest days of his life. Gibby loved nature and spent many family vacations camping in Savoy Mountain State Forest, eventually earning the nickname “Mr. Savoy.” A people person, Gibby loved spending time with numerous friends and family members. He spent every September feeding what seemed like the entire attendance of the Josh Billings triathlon race. His buffet tables served countless participants, families, friends and security staff members. He was a talented woodworker, remodeling his own house, and building furniture and a barn for his woodworking projects. He loved music, particularly jazz, blues, bluegrass, world, and rock and roll. He attended many outdoor concerts and music festivals. He was a great dancer. He loved playing cribbage and watching cinema. You could often find him watching his favorite movies again and again.
Gibby was all New England in his love of professional sports. He followed the Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins. He would devour the Boston Globe’s sports section every Sunday and, before cable television, would travel near and far to watch telecasts of his beloved Celtics’ championship playoff games. He was a generous soul and genuinely enjoyed serving others. He was kind and forgiving. He was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother and cousin. He touched many lives and he will be missed by so many. Gibby would not want people to mourn his passing, but to celebrate his life by passing on some goodness to others.
Gibby was predeceased by his father, Gilbert Rudd, in 1985. He leaves behind his wife, Ann; his two children: Darcie G. Sosa of Dalton and Nathan G. Rudd, wife Jackie Rudd and daughter Evelyn “Evie” Rudd of Greenville South Carolina; his mother, Gilda “Didi” J. Rudd, of Dalton; his siblings: Virginia “Ginny” Miller and husband Dennis, Christine “Tina” Papiro, Claire Townend and husband Bruce, and Francis “Frank” Rudd and wife Patricia;as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, cousins and countless friends.
A celebration-of-life service was held Saturday, March 10, 2018, at the Dalton Congregational Church, 514 Main St., Dalton. Burial followed at the Ashuelot Cemetery in Dalton. In lieu of flowers, Gibby requested that any donations be made to the Dalton Firemen’s Association, 20 Flansburg Ave., Dalton MA 01226. Please visit www.wellingtonfuneralhome.com to leave condolences and remembrances to the family. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mr. Gilbert “Gibby” F. Rudd Jr., please visit the Sympathy Store.
