Rudolph Joseph Sobotka, Jr.

            Rudolph Joseph Sobotka, Jr. was born on November 25, 1946, in Sharon, Pennsylvania. He had 2 brothers and 2 sisters. His family moved to Ohio and back to Pennsylvania a few times. He graduated from high school in Pennsylvania and started college at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

            He took a break from college to earn money to put himself through school. At that time, he was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam war. He was discharged from the Army before completion of basic training due to poor eyesight.

            He resumed studies at Rutgers  and graduated with his MBA. During college, he met and married his first wife, Ellen. They had 2 children, Susan and Jay. That union ended in 1978.    Rudy moved to New York City at that time and initially worked as a bike messenger and then moved on to accounting, working as corporate controller. He moved to California in 1987 where his brothers lived. He met Anita that year. After several years of dating, Rudy and Anita were married. Two years later, Devon and Noelle were born.

            Rudy continued his accounting work and in 2001, the family moved to Roseville and Folsom where the girls were raised. Trips to National Parks, the beach, Disneyland, Hawaii, soccer games, volleyball games, and gymnastics filled all their lives.

            He enjoyed cars, planes, movies, the beach, skiing, art, running, working out and racing cars. He loved computers. He was a skilled mechanic and carpenter, designing and building, with great attention to detail. He also enjoyed building model planes. He was a great photographer and loved his many cameras. When he retired, he pursued daytime trading and investing. He loved dogs and kids, and both were always drawn to him.

            Rudy is survived by his wife, Anita; his daughters, Susan, Devon, and Noelle, and his son, Jay; and his grandchildren, Alexandra and Megan. Rudy will be fondly remembered for his loving nature, his impersonations of Donald Duck and Goofy, and his dry wit. He was a devoted family man. He will be greatly missed and always loved.