Mr. Rudolph 'Rudy' W. Beckert, Jr, age 70, of Lebanon Rd., Bethany CT & Cotuit, MA, passed away at his home on May 18, 2009. Rudy is the husband of Eleanor Salvestrini Beckert; father of Michael Louis Beckert & his wife Pepe of Bethany, Rudolph 'Rudy' W. Beckert III & his wife Cindy of Madison, Alabama and Valerie Esther Strange & her husband Jeffrey of Cheshire; grandfather of Craig & Taylor Strange and Sarah & Patrick Beckert and brother of Malcolm Beckert of Tucson, AZ and Alan Beckert of Tulsa, OK. Born in New Haven on November 7, 1938 Rudy was a son of the late Rudolph W. Beckert Sr. & Esther Barbash Beckert. Rudy received his BA Degree at Indiana Tech and his Masters Degree from Rennselear University. He was a program manager for the Blackhawk Helicopter, employed at Sikorsky Aircraft for 38 years as an Aeronautical Engineer. In his many years with Sikorsky, Rudy was involved in many designs and patents for the company. He was Chair of Trustees and Historian and sang in the choir for the Bethany First Church of Christ Congregational, elected to the Zoning Board of Appeals of Bethany and former Boy Scott Leader for Troop 1 in Bethany. Rudy was an avid traveler and outdoorsman; loved reading and was a devoted family man and friend. Friends may visit with his family on Friday, May 22, 2009 at BEECHER & BENNETT FUNERAL HOME, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden from 4 to 8 PM and may attend a Celebration of his Life on Saturday at 11 AM in the First Church of Christ Congregational, Bethany. Officiating will be The Rev. Dr. Mary Lou Howson & The Rev. Donna Ives. Interment will be private. Contributions in Rudy's memory may be made to The First Church of Christ Congregational, 511 Amity Rd, Bethany, CT 06524.