Ulrica Rudd

Ulrica (Rikki) Rudd, 102, of Venice and Englewood, died peacefully at Venice Regional Bayfront Health on October 6, 2015. She moved from the Washington D.C. area more than 40 years ago and was most recently residing with her grandson in Englewood. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark on June 30, 1913, daughter of Olga Eggers and Anton Thomsen, Rikki moved to the United States while in her early 20s and studied journalism at Columbia University. After a short marriage during which a daughter, Nina, was born, she met and married Irving G. Rudd and they had three sons, Lauren, Alan and Eric. The Rudds lived in Washington D.C. and later in nearby Bethesda, MD until her husband's retirement and their move to Venice. Rikki was a professional potter, active with ceramic groups and showing in the Washington D.C. area and in Lynchburg, VA. Upon her move to Venice, Rikki continued making pottery and sold her pots through Copenhagen Imports. After her husband's passing in 2003, Rikki decided to live life to the fullest. She skydived at the age of 90, and participated in other aerial feats including para-sailing, hang-gliding, zip-lining, and flying in an Ultra-light. She traveled extensively, including trips to Peru, Morocco, Greece, Russia, Tibet, China, Egypt, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tanzania and other countries. Annually, she vacationed with her son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Barbara, in the Berkshires and in Sayulita, Mexico. She held the unofficial para-sailing record on the Puerto Vallarta beach, by going up when she was 98 ¾ (on the same day that she also zip-lined and just a few days after flying in an Ultra-light). She was loved by all, and especially she loved anything with four paws. She was an avid reader and it was a rare moment not to see her with a book on her lap. In recent years, with dementia, she was cared for by her grandson, Nikolai Rudd, and lived with him in Englewood. She also had joyful homecare from Peg Rively, Damaris Amado, and Angelica Solero-Ortiz. She was predeceased by her husband, Irving, and her daughter, Nina. She is survived by her sons, Lauren (Diane), Alan (Christina) and Eric (Barbara), as well as nine grandchildren, Laura, Anna, Jeremy, Michelle, Lael, Mikol, Tatiana, Thaddeus and Nikolai, as well as eleven great-grandchildren. There are no memorial services planned.