BEVERLY: Rudolph V. Melei, 80, died Monday August 18, 2008 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He was the loving wife of Rena (Benoit) Melei.
Born in Beverly on December 9, 1927, he was the son of the late Severio and Rose (Farina) Melei. He had resided in Beverly for many years before moving to Margate, Florida in 1997. A U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of world War II, he was a member of both the Herman A. Spear Post #331 American Legion in Beverly and the Amaral-Bailey Post #113 American Legion in Manchester.
Rudolph had owned and operated Rocket Transportation and Ruste Transportation in Beverly and Boston. He later owned a fleet of trucks and managed deliveries for Whitehall Liquors, McKesson Liquors & Wines, C. Pappas Company and Branded Liquors all in Boston. Rudy was also a very successful liquor salesman. He won quite a few trips all over the world for himself and his wife, Rena.
An avid golfer, he was a member of the Beverly Golf and Tennis Club. He was a charter member of the Vittori-Rocci Post #56, a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Italian Community Center all in Beverly. He was also a ranger at Colony West in Florida.
In addition to his wife of fifty-nine years, he is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Rudolph R. and Evelyn Melei of Rockport and Stephen D. and Linda Melei of Coral Springs, FL, two grandsons, Rudy and Tony Melei both of Coral Springs, two brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, John and Dorsey Benoit of Peabody and Linda (Benoit) and Thomas O’Donnell of Lynn and many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by four sisters, Violet Sayrs, Della Ball, Madeline Melei and Sister M. Joan Melei, Order of Carmelite, two brothers, Samuel and Frank Melei and a brother-in-law, Robert Benoit and a sister-in-law, Janet (Benoit) Funari.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday in the St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, Cabot St., Beverly at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly from 4 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Vitas Hospice Care, 2000 E. Commercial Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308. Interment will be held in Central Cemetery, Beverly.