Rutilo “Rudy” Saldana Sandoval was a beloved son, brother, father, and grandfather adored by absolutely every soul he met. He was born Sept. 6, 1955, and passed peacefully in his sleep Jan. 3, 2025, after fighting a long and arduous battle with ALS, leaving behind his wife, Julia, and daughters, Nancy, Elina, Nohemi, Cynthia and Son, Saul.
As cliché as it may sound, Rudy was truly a proverbial bright light in everyone’s life, filling his loved one’s days with humor and raucous laughter with every human connection he made. On any given day you could find Rudy cheering for his beloved Diamondbacks, calling friends and family members to share an inappropriate joke followed by a session of belly laughs, or spending time playing catch with his adult children and grandchildren. He truly lived life to the fullest and loved making people smile and laugh, including his entire nursing staff in the final days of his life.
Simply put, our father Rudy was sunshine in human form. Therefore, his memory should evoke a smile instead of tears from all those he made laugh throughout his lifetime. Rudy’s memory and legacy will live on with every funny (and inappropriate) joke or story we share of him. Until we can have a drink and laugh with Rudy on the other side, let us remember to live life like he did, with a grin from ear to ear.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the ALS- Arizona chapter Ways to Give | ALS Arizona in Rudy’s honor.
We will forever keep the memory of your laughter close to our hearts Papito!
Arrangements cared for by San Tan Mountain View Funeral Home.
