Tony Rudell, Vistage member and owner of successful Wolverhampton jewellers Rudells, has died suddenly, aged 64, after suffering a severe stroke at his Edgbaston home on Thursday morning. He was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Selly Oak, Birmingham but he did not regain consciousness and died peacefully at 2pm on Friday 20th May.
His funeral was held at Birmingham Jewish Cemetery on Sunday where hundreds of people paid tribute to him. He led Rudells Jewellers for decades, helping to build on the success of the family business which also has a branch in Harborne, Birmingham. He leaves behind Patricia Rudell (Ricky) and an extended "family" of close friends. Mr Rudell, who was Jewish, was buried on Sunday. Born in 1946 to Justin and Etta Rudell, Roundy, as he was known to friends, was involved in the family's Wolverhampton based jewellery business from the age of 20, starting as he meant to go on by expanding the business into a neighbouring vacant store during his parents first holiday when they left him in charge. Under his leadership Rudells has become a fantastic benchmark for customer service.
As well as developing the business, charity work was also an important part of Roundy’s life and he tirelessly raised money and awareness for a number of causes including Cure Leukaemia and the Variety club. He was a great supporter of Vistage, approaching 10 years of membership in 2012. He will be sadly missed by his V3 Vistage group and the many friends he had made through Vistage, including many of the speakers. Jon Weston, Managing Director of Rudells, said his friend would leave a lasting memory with those who knew him as a man with indomitable spirit, unlimited kindness and an inspirational love of life. He said: "To say that he will be greatly missed does not adequately cover the huge loss that so many of us will feel. I have lost a very, very close friend. Roundy has been like a second father to me, I will continue his wishes of ‘the show must go on’ and practice the great things he has taught me over the last 22 years."
