Summer 2005

Rudolph “Rudy” Elmer

Former Lighthouse president Rudolph “Rudy” Elmer was known for his determination and perseverance. Armed with these qualities, he oversaw tremendous innovation and growth in the Seattle Lighthouse.

His service at the Lighthouse included shepherding a merger between blindness agencies Handcrest, Inc. and the Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc, nurturing the relationship between The Boeing Company and the Lighthouse, and a strong commitment to creating more diverse employment opportunities for people with visual disabilities. Under Rudy’s guidance, the Lighthouse hired its first Deaf-Blind employees and our Deaf-Blind program was born.

Privately, Rudy was known for his devotion to family and church. His sixty-five year marriage to May Elmer was famously devoted and happy. Rudy and May had one daughter, Mimi, and two grandchildren, Chelsea and Kelly Michael Murray.

“He was a pioneer as far as industries and services to blind people,” says George Jacobson, president. “It was Rudy who started the technical types of opportunities for blind people in the machine shop operations and more advanced manufacturing expertise and capabilities.”

“He involved blind people in the management and supervisory positions. He helped develop people’s skills and opportunities for upward mobility,” George continues. “Rudy practiced what he preached. He was a very strong believer in equal pay and equal benefits -- that blind people, just like everybody else, deserved to have full benefits that employment offers as far as paid vacation, sick leave, health and welfare, dental plans, and retirement. He may be one of the first to establish a full set of benefits available for blind employees.”

“The bottom line was he really worked hard in providing opportunity to blind people. He was a salesman at heart. He dedicated his life to providing those employment opportunities and really established the legacy of what is here today -- what remains in providing all these opportunities to blind people, Deaf-Blind people, and multi-disabled blind people.”

Rudy passed away at the age of ninety in his home. His hard work and resolve led the way in creating and strengthening opportunities for people who are blind.

You can read more about Rudy Elmer’s legacy in Seattle’s Best-Kept Secret: A History of the Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. Please visit www.seattlelighthouse.org/book/index.html to order your copy of the book.

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