Picture shows Rudy – a brief visit with students at Testalinda.

Remembering Principal Rudy Guidi

Rodolfo Pietro Mario Guidi was born July 19, 1911 the son of Angelo Guidi and Letizia Pellini in the tiny village of Pontecosi, Italy. Pontecosi and Mozzanella (Pioli family) are a few km. apart near the walled city of Castiglione di Garfagnana in Tuscany. Our families were related as were many other families from the area.

Angelo Guidi immigrated in early 1912. Rudy’s mother Letizia came in 1913. Rudy and his sister Clara went to live with relatives in Italy. I have no explanation why it took so long for Rudy and Clara to be reunited with their family. I believe that Lucy, Rudy’s sister was born in Kelowna.

Ellis Island records show that on February 3, 1920 aboard the Regine d’Italia, Rodolfo, aged 9 and his sister Clara, aged 10 were accompanied by their aunt Ersilia Pellini. Their final destination was Kelowna, B.C.

Rudy took all his schooling in Kelowna. My mother Lena Pioli Shaw remembered tutoring him in English after school so he could learn English faster. He was quick to learn the language but never lost his bit of an Italian accent. Mom was 3 years younger than Rudy but they formed a life long friendship and were both astounded when they ended up in Oliver, B.C.

After graduation, Rudy went to Normal School in Victoria, B.C. He finished in June of 1931. Two days before school opened he received a telegram from the Oliver School Board offering him a position in the Elementary School. He accepted for a year and stayed for the rest of his life. After four years of teaching Rudy became Principal and stayed in that position until his retirement in 1973.

Rudy eventually married Mae Smithers and had two sons, Gordon and Peter. Rudi was a Past President of the local Rotary International, a Past President of the South Okanagan Retired Teachers Association, and was named Oliver’s Good Citizen in 1971. He was a member of Christ the King Parish and served as its choir director for approximately fifty years. We Catholics certainly remember his beautiful voice every Sunday morning!

His love of music, especially Italian songs, and his well known tenor voice made him a popular guest at weddings, funerals, musicals and area nursing homes. During his years as principal he touched the lives of generations of children, winning the respect of old and young alike with his unassuming approach to problems. He was keen in organizing track meets, field trips, special musicals and operettas. May Days featuring the Maypole Dance were exciting, successful events. Rudi tells his life story and the history of the Oliver Elementary School in his book, “The Boy from Tuscany.”

My fondest personal memory of Rudy was when his sister Clara came to visit. Rudy and Mae just lived on Earle Crescent about five houses away from us and one evening Clara and her husband Ralph, Rudy and Mae walked down for a visit. We had a beautiful piano and Clara sat down and started playing every Italian song she knew and Rudy gave a concert perfect performance!

Another memory was when I started school. I had Mrs. Matthews for my teacher and I cried every day making Mom stay with me. Finally Rudy decided to move me to Mrs. Stewart’s class and I was just fine. It seems that Sandy had really frightened me with tales of Mrs. Matthew’s temper and her penchant for spanking!!

All in all, Rudy was a valued member of the community and was liked by all except for a handful of boys he had to discipline!!! I remember him telling Mom that every time he had to strap a boy, he would go into his office and shed a few tears as he found it very difficult to do but was instructed by the School Board that it was expected of him to mete out discipline.

Rudy enjoyed his retirement and he and Mae travelled occasionally to California to see Peter and to Penticton to see Gordon and to Kelowna to visit with some of his old Italian friends. He made two trips back to Italy to visit with family and said how much like Tuscany the Okanagan Valley was.

Rudy passed away April 4, 1993…his beautiful tenor voice was at last silenced. Christ the King Catholic Church in Oliver was standing room only with people actually standing outside the Church. The funeral was a tribute to a wonderful, kind and generous man. And the music was all Rudy…His sons had Rudy on tape singing Italian, English and Religious songs and this was played during the service. I imagine Rudy would have been embarrassed that he sang at his own funeral service.