Submitted by the Cardiff by the Sea Town Council
Pat Rudolph, or "Mother Cardiff" as she was known, was an extraordinary woman, community activist, and leader. She dedicated herself to her community and loved it as if it were her child, and she was passionate about helping those in need and fighting injustice and intolerance. Although she passed away in 2000, her legacyis giving birth to opportunity and academic excellence at MiraCosta College today.
Following high school Rudolph traveled the world as a stewardess, and then later as a Special Events Director, for United Airlines. After a lifetime of working around the world, she found a "home" in Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
Among many of her contributions to her community, she adopted the nearby MiraCosta College's San Elijo campus as it was being established. She served on the college's advisory board for many years and it was during that time that she developed her devotion to hard-working responsible students who could benefit from what she called a "hand-up" not a handout.
Rudolph decided to make provisions in her estate plans for MiraCosta College. She knew that by doing so she was creating a legacy that expressed her strong belief in the power of education to both transform the lives of individuals and strengthen her community. Today, the Patricia and Mark Rudolph Scholarship Endowment funds scholarships for nearly 25 deserving students each year.
Pat started the Cardiff by the Sea Town Council almost 30 years ago. She also is the one that thought up the "Piece of the Walk" project on Birmingham. There was no sidewalk on Birmingham and the city would not build one so Pat convinced the city to go along with her idea of people paying $15 for a square of concrete that they could put their name on (or whatever they wanted). Then she hounded everyone she could find to pay the $15 and finally we had a sidewalk on Birmingham.
Also, the "boat" at the corner of 101 and Chesterfield is pure Pat. She saw the boat in the backyard of a Cardiff restaurant, talked to the owner, bought the boat and then had it trucked over to that corner. She then had the sign built and installed behind the boat. All of this at her own expense. She was truly an extraordinary woman!
