Tibor Rudolph Elder

Tibor Rudolph Elder, 79, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Hope Hospice in Lehigh Acres, Florida. Rudy was born in Munich, Germany, 14 months after the end of World War II in Europe. His mother, Anna Juhasz, was a native of Hungary. A student nurse, she fled to Austria with members of a field hospital after her medical train was bombed and strafed in Czechoslovakia. Rudy’s father, Tom, a soldier who grew up on a Kentucky farm, met Anna in Ebensee, Austria. The trio traveled to the United States aboard the S.S. America in 1948. Rudy graduated from Jesuit High School in El Paso, Texas and received a bachelors in journalism at Loyola University in New Orleans where he met his future wife, Mary Ann Oechsle. In 1968, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army and served 4 years, including a year in South Vietnam as an air ground operations advisor. He received a Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal. Upon return to civilian life, Rudy took a job as a newspaper reporter with the Geneva Times (later Finger Lakes Times) in New York. Over a 22-year career, Rudy worked stints as an assistant city editor, wire editor and news editor. He earned numerous writing awards, including a feature on jockey Bill Shoemaker and coverage of the Cayuga Native American land claim dispute. Rudy and Mary Ann relocated to Florida in 1994, where both worked as social workers. Rudy helped custodial parents receive delinquent child support. His job with the Florida Department of Revenue including working a night court mediator and supervising several judicial enforcement teams. Rudy earned a master’s degree in social work from Florida Gulf Coast University. As a licensed social worker, Rudy worked for Hope Hospice assisting dying patients and their families. He later facilitated groups for the Intervention Project for Nurses. Rudy was a horse racing enthusiast who enjoyed watching the Kentucky Derby and participating in race handicapping events. In his younger days he was often on the tennis court and engaged in late-night card playing sessions with friends. He was a talented cook. He is predeceased by his wife Mary Ann and parents, Tom and Anna. Rudy is survived by long-time companion Karen Nanan of Lehigh Acres, Florida, son Chris Elder of Rochester, New York, and siblings Tom Elder of El Paso, Texas, Jim (Geri) Elder of Williamsburg, Virginia, Greg (Ann) Elder of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Debbie Elder of El Paso, Texas. A special thanks to the staff of Hope Hospice in Lehigh Acres for the care and support they provided Rudy. A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 20, 2025 at 2PM at Gendron Funeral Home, 2701 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres, FL, followed by inurnment with military honors at Sarasota National Cemetery on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 10AM. Donations may be made to Hope Hospice. To offer condolences please visit https://www.gendronfuneralhome.com/.

Tibor Rudolph Elder

July 10, 1946 - September 13, 2025