(Our good friend and fellow worker, Rudy Corwin, was called home to the Lord on Friday, June 6, 2003. It seems unreal to me that he is no longer here. His peaceful presence and his abundant wisdom are things for which I will be forever grateful. He was such an example to us of how we can find JOY in praising our God. The Lord is good to have let so many of us know, love and serve with Rudy over these past 30 years in Charismatic Renewal. Below we have printed the eulogy that Ron Ryan gave at Rudy’s funeral.)

Rudy Corwin: Good and Faithful Servant

Eulogy by Ron Ryan

Pat & Rudy Corwin, Walk-a-thon 1992

I first met Rudy Corwin in 1986. Pat and Rudy invited me to stay at their home while attending a conference here in Seattle. I remember that Rudy was working on a number of projects at the time—over the years I learned that he was always working on a number of projects around the house. The main one in 1986 was reorganizing his workshop. Pat informs me that he got around to finishing that project sometime last year.

The first thing I noticed about Rudy was his love for Pat. It was obvious just from being in their home that they loved one another. It was obvious by the way they were present to each other—a quiet and tender love that had carried them through many years. Their love for one another made their home a place of hospitality where many people, like myself, felt blessed and welcomed.

I also noticed right away that Rudy was a man of few words. During my first visit to their home, I would go downstairs to the den and spend some time reading or watching TV. Rudy would be there; we’d say "hi" and that would be it for quite awhile. Rudy was a person with whom it was very easy just to "be" with. He was comfortable with himself, and he made you comfortable to be with him.

Even though Rudy was a man of few words, I soon learned that when he did say something, it was usually worth listening to. Rudy was one of the founding members the Board of Directors of Western Washington Catholic Charismatic Renewal, where I worked when I first moved to Seattle. At Board meetings there would frequently be a great many reports and a lot of discussion and a tremendous number of opinions shared. It was Rudy who would usually speak up at the end, and give a clear synopsis of what had been said, and a fairly logical conclusion to the discussion. I didn’t always agree with the conclusion he had drawn, but I always had to admit that it was logical.

It was obvious that Rudy had a great intellect (he was the only person who ever attempted to explain to me how MS DOS worked—and fully expected me to understand!) But it was even more obvious that his faith in God was the center of his life and of his family. He was intent that his children and grandchildren know God, and God’s love for them. He was also intent that people beyond his family know about Jesus Christ. Pat and Rudy registered at St. Brendan Parish in 1955. For these nearly fifty years both of them have been actively involved in their parish (except for a brief tour of duty when St. John Vianney Parish first formed).

One of the ways Rudy was committed to [his parish] community was the Wednesday night prayer meeting. Every Wednesday for the past thirty years you would find Rudy here at the prayer meeting. He was never more full of life than when he was singing, often with his eyes closed and his hands raised in praise of God.

At one of those prayer meetings Rudy shared a Scripture which over the years has become one of my favorite verses. I believe Rudy embodied it in his own life. He read from the prophet Micah:

"What is good has been explained to you. This is what God asks of you, only this: to act justly, to love tenderly, to walk humbly with your God."

Thank you, Rudy, for your tender, loving, humble walk with God. I believe you are now hearing another Scripture, being spoken by your Lord: Well done, good and faithful servant.