FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Event Date: August 5^th, 2008   6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Location: Corner of Rainier Ave. South & South Findlay St.

Night Out in Hillman City to Honor Beloved Neighbor

A Memorial for Rudy Hanson

       (Seattle-Hillman City)  Even with festive music, clowns, free treats, face painting, and the hundreds of people expected at this year’s Night Out in Hillman City, the event will be a little sad.  Along with the traditional mission of helping neighbors get to know each other, this year’s gathering will be a memorial for Rudy Hanson.  A quiet but generous Hillman City businessman and neighborhood booster for nearly half a century, Rudy passed away in his sleep this past June at age 66.

     “Dad came to Seattle from Montana when he was 16 and bought Rudy’s Auto Service sometime in the 1960s - always cars, he loved cars,” says his daughter Carla Davis.  He ran the shop on the corner of Rainier Avenue South & South Findlay until the day he died.  “Over the years he helped all kinds of people, whether they were stuck with a broken-down auto, or needed a loan,” says Denise Gloster, president of Hillman City’s Business Association(HCBA).  “There is a ladies-only gym next to Rudy’s old shop.  He made sure no one bothered the women as they were going in and out.”

     “I know he gave free gas to people who were down on their luck, and I’ve heard he even paid rent for people from time to time,” says Brian Lettich, HBCA’s secretary.  “That’s the kind of thing he’d do.  I also know he didn’t go to college, but felt it was important for people to do that, so he contributed to the Rainier Valley Chamber’s education fund.”

    “He does his good deeds quietly and would like to keep it that way,” states the text on the Heritage Neighbor Award Rudy was given at Hillman City’s Town Hall in March.  “I’m really grateful we got a chance to thank him publicly and let him know how important he was to us.” says Gloster.  “One of the things we were thanking him for was letting us use his shop’s parking lot for last year’s Night Out, so remembering him at this year’s party, which is in the same parking lot, couldn’t be more appropriate.” 

     Night Out in Hillman City is sponsored by the Hillman City Business Association which invites you to drop by and share in the joy and sadness of remembering a life well lived.

For more about Rudy you can contact:

Carla Davis, (425) 830-7982, Carla.davis@wilsonsleather.com

Brian Fairchild, Windermere Seattle-Mt. Baker Branch Manager, (206) 852-5672, bfairchild@windermere.com

Denise Gloster, HCBA President, (206) 795-5824 or 723-4637, denisegloster@yahoo.com

Hillman City is a traditional Seattle neighborhood diverse, evolving and comprised of residents and businesses working together to maintain “The Village in the Valley.” http://www.hillmancitybiz.org

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