The inevitable conclusion to this incredible gift of life is death. Every human being faces this conclusion. We all wonder when, where and how our lives will end.
As I approach my 76th year of life on this earth on November 14, I think more and more about my own when, where and how I will exit this life. I pray that my faith in God will give me the courage to face my end with dignity and no fear.
I have been incredibly blessed to do a job that I truly love — being a broadcaster for over 55 years. My late parents, James Sr. and Naomi always told me that one of the greatest gifts in this life is to do a job you love and get paid. That is truly a gift from God. But how many of us pass away doing what we love to do, that thing that fills our life with inexpressible joy?
Rudolph “Rudy” Edwards Jr. is one of those rare human beings who was so blessed. He came into this life with the blessing of being named after Rudolph “Spider” Edwards Sr. of Boston Celtics fame. For those of you who don’t know, Spider Edwards was the man who swept the famous Boston Celtics parquet floor during timeouts of the team’s games for nearly four decades. He wore a classy fedora hat while he performed his job and was the only person on the Boston Garden bull crew who was allowed to wear a hat while performing his job.
Rudy taking his signature jump shot. PHOTO: COURTESY EDWARDS FAMILY
Spider Edwards said, “Red Auerbach gave me permission to wear my hat, and that was that.” The hat was Spider’s signature, as was his warm smile and unique relationship with the players, from Bill Russell to Larry Bird. When he retired, the franchise honored him by retiring his famous mop, etching his name in Celtics lore.
Spider became one of my dearest friends. I was honored to call him one of my godfathers. His funeral was attended by a large group of people from all over New England and other states. They came to pay their final respects to a man who did his job with class and dignity.
His son would carve a path of glory for himself. He would spend many days going to work with his celebrated father while honing his excellent shooting skills on the parquet floor.
“As a kid, I learned to shoot from the best,” young Rudy would often tell me. “But the lessons came after I worked with my dad, mopping, waxing and sweeping the parquet floor. I always admired my father for his work ethic and the way people respected him.”
(from left) Rudy’s sister Valerie, father Rudolph “Spider” Edwards Sr., Rudy Jr. and sister Vanessa. PHOTO: COURTESY EDWARDS FAMILY
The son would spend his life dedicated to the principles of hard work, character and courage, learned from the humble man who taught him those lessons while pushing his famous mop over the parquet floor for thousands of miles. The father always expressed pride in the son who wore his name, teaching him to be a man of courage.
Rudy Edwards Jr. showed courage through his 40 years of dedicated service as a Boston firefighter. Decorated for heroism many times over, firefighter Edwards survived to retire in 2019. Whether running into burning buildings to save lives or running up and down a basketball court nailing three-point shots, Rudy Jr. lived his life with passion.
The father always expressed pride in the son that wore his name. I watched his son become an excellent basketball player, a knockdown shooter who could hit shots anywhere on the basketball court. He learned his shooting skills from Celtics legends Sam Jones, John Havlicek, Jo-Jo White, Larry Bird, and Reggie Lewis.
Rudy Edwards’ helmet from Engine 49 in Readville, Mass. PHOTO: COURTESY EDWARDS FAMILY
“I watched these great players practice their shooting and stole every bit of knowledge from them that I could,” said Rudy Jr. He became a student of the game, learning its nuances from his father, Celtics players, and team patriarch Red Auerbach.
Rudy Jr. loved to play basketball. The game has been in his family DNA since the day he was born to Rudolph Sr.
Upon hearing that Reggie Lewis had collapsed and died while working out in 1993, I remember Rudy Jr. telling me, “As sad as it is, at least Reggie got to spend the last moments of his life doing what he loved to do: working out, shooting a basketball.”
I could have never guessed that Rudy Edwards Jr. would travel the same road as the man he played with and admired. He was playing basketball in the Darrly Bishop Oldtimers League at the Epiphany School on Sunday, October 27. He collapsed on the court and was rushed to Boston Medical Center, where he would die days later at age 70.
Malcolm Wynn, the commissioner of the Darryl Bishop League, said, “Every player in this league has suffered shock over Rudy’s death. The league has not played games over the last three weeks since the day he collapsed before our eyes. This incident will stay in our minds for the rest of our lives.”
Funeral services are on November 19, at Concord Baptist Church, 180 Blue Hill Ave., Milton, Mass.
While the grief of his sudden death is numbing, remember that Rudy Edwards Jr., husband and father, became one of those rare human beings who died doing what he loved to do.
Condolences go out to his family and friends. He will be missed. Rest in eternal peace Rudolph Edwards Jr., legendary son of legendary father Rudolph Spider Edwards Sr.
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