Rudy John Boiani

Rudolph ?Rudy? John Boiani, 70, of 122 Eustis Avenue, Newport, RI, died Saturday, June 16, 2007 at the Newport Hospital, Newport, RI.Born in Newport, RI, on July 20, 1936, he was the son of the late Livio John and Louisa Silva Boiani.Mr. Boiani was a graduate of the former De La Salle Academy in Newport. He was most known for working as the field manager at Cardine?s Field, handling nearly every aspect of the field?s operations. Rudy was a devoted father, grandfather, and friend. He was a hard worker who chose to work despite a lifelong battle with Cerebral Palsy.Rudy was known as an icon at Cardine?s Field who never missed a game for decades. Cardine?s and baseball were a big part of Rudy?s life for the last 25 years where he worked for the George B. Donnelly Sunset League, Salve Regina University, Rogers High School, NAPS, American Legion, Senior Babe Ruth, Babe Ruth, and other special games and events. He was also there during the winter working during ?Fall Ball? baseball season, Pop Warner football, rugby and soccer.Three generations of his family worked with him over the years, starting with his daughter Kim who announced and scored games for over 10 years, his granddaughter Kassandra who started shagging baseballs and then also announcing and scoring the games, and his grandson Chris who shags baseballs.He is survived by his daughter Kimberly Sue Boiani of Newport, RI, and three grandchildren, Kassandra Louisa Boiani, Christopher Alan Cottrell Jr., and Hope Jessica Boiani-Brassard. Rudy also leaves a longtime girlfriend of 22 years, Margaret ?Mindy? Welles of Newport and a longtime friend of Rudys for 35 years Patricia Pat Wangrocki Paul of Newport.His funeral will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2007, at 8:00 am from the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00 am in St. Josephs Church, Broadway and Mann Avenue, Newport.Burial will be in Trinity Cemetery in Portsmouth.Calling hours will be held Wednesday, June 20, 2007, from 2-4 and 7-9 in the Memorial Funeral Home.