Rudy Bredenbeck, Cincinnati ’54, was successful in business and a beloved family man. Born in Brooklyn Village, Ohio, Bredenbeck was valedictorian of his high school class. Accomplished in track and field, he competed at the University of Cincinnati, where he met his wife, Shirley, and became a member of SigEp’s Ohio Theta Chapter. He helped lead the chapter with Past Grand President and Order of the Golden Heart recipient Eric Weise, ’54.

After serving in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, Bredenbeck went to work for Teledyne Efficient Industries. He spent 35 years with the company, serving as president and chairman for 18 years. Bredenbeck also served as president of the National Tooling and Machining Association, as well as president of the group’s Cleveland chapter. In 1977, he was honored with the Sigma Phi Epsilon Citation.

Throughout his life, Bredenbeck remained an accomplished athlete. He competed in Masters Track and Field in shot put, discus, javelin and weight throws. He was also an avid golfer and gardener. Bredenbeck was inducted into the Ohio Senior Olympic Hall of Fame in 2007 and continued to be active despite being diagnosed with multiple myeloma that year.

After a long, hard-fought battle with cancer, Bredenbeck passed away on May 5, 2016. He was laid to rest in the Cleveland area on Saturday, May 28. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Shirley; three children, Wayne, Kurt and Julie; and grandchildren Hanna and Bailey.