In Memory of Larry Rudd

Larry Rudd was a great employee and friend for many years here at Brando’s Beach House. The news of his sudden death has shocked us all and we will continue to honor his name and the fun memories he’s given us over all these years! Our condolences and deepest sympathy are going out to his family and especially his mother Helen who loved Larry very much. She had organized the deployment party at Brando’s that we had all attended just over a month prior to his passing.

He was always a larger than life character. He watched over us all, staff and patrons alike, keeping the peace in between cracking jokes and the Larry-sized hugs he would give out to friends. His deployment party was right here at the bar, which was packed with family and friends, and regular patrons. Even those who didn’t know him personally came out to support because they knew he would have probably done the exact same for them. He was loved by everyone, and if you had a chance to talk to him you’d know why. He left for his tour of service at the end of April 2010, promising to be back at Christmas and not to worry because as he put it “I’ll be fine”.

Unfortunately on May 24th 2010 around 12:30PM, Kandahar time, he was killed en route delivering supplies and equipment to other brave Canadian Soldiers by an improvised explosive device (IED). Larry, 26 years old, was just two weeks into his seven month tour leaving us far too soon with a Larry-sized empty space in each of our hearts.

You can bet Trooper Larry Rudd is somewhere up above keeping all of us safe in his watch.

We miss you buddy,
Your Brando’s Family

Links:

Obituary – Beckett Glaves
The Trews – Highway of Heroes Live at Brantford’s Hockeyfest (Youtube Video)
Ostilow – 146 (Song dedicated to Larry) (Youtube Video)
Dragoons Celebrate the Life of Trooper Larry Rudd (The Royal Canadian Dragoons Website)
Remembering A Fallen Hero (Brant News Video – June 6th 2010)
Hundreds mourn fallen soldier in Brantford (CTV News Video- June 5th 2010)
‘He died a hero’ (Brant News Article – June 4th)
Trooper Larry Rudd returns home (Brantford Expositor Article – June 1st 2010)
Fallen soldier sent home at Kandahar ramp ceremony (National Post Article – May 26th 2010)
Repatriation of latest Canadian Afghanistan… (Durham Region News Article – May 25th 2010)
Soldier was ‘a friend to all’ (Brant News Interview with Helen – May 25th 2010)
City reacts to soldier’s death (Brant News Video – May 25th 2010)
Brantford remembers latest fallen Cdn. soldier (CTV News – May 25th 2010)
‘We loved Larry’: soldier’s friends (Expositor Article – May 25th 2010)