Rudy Henry Moreno

Rudy H. Moreno passed away February 3, 2021 as a result of Covid-19. He was born July 18, 1938 in Las Cruces, New Mexico to Cipriano and Antonia Moreno. His parents moved to Carlsbad in late 1940. A few months later, the family relocated to Oceanside, where Rudy attended kindergarten thru 4th grade. They then moved back to Carlsbad, where he graduated from Pine Street Elementary School and then Oceanside-Carlsbad High School in 1956. He had enlisted in the army while still in high school through an early enlistment program. He graduated at 17 on a Friday, and was sworn into the army the following Sunday in Los Angeles. His training was done at Fort Lewis, Washington. After basic training, Rudy was assigned to a combat engineering battalion. In early 1957, the unit was sent to Germany, where he spent 27 months.

After his discharge from the army, Rudy enrolled in Oceanside-Carlsbad Junior College. Having played football in high school, the army and junior college, he was offered football scholarships from Linfield College in Oregon, Cal Western College in Point Loma and San Diego State University. By then, he was tired of playing football but decided he would try out for spring ball at San Diego State in 1966, just for the experience. He said it was a great experience but he found out he was too old, too slow and out of shape. He gave up football three weeks later. He then took football coaching classes from coaches Don Coryell, Joe Gibbs, Tom Holland and John Madden.

While attending San Diego State, Rudy got a job with Carlsbad High School as a custodian, which allowed him to go to school during the day and work after school. He did this until 1965, when he needed to leave his job in order to take upper division classes and do his student teaching. He graduated in 1967 and started substitute teaching in North County schools. In 1968, he was offered a job with the Carlsbad School District, where he taught for twenty-seven years. He taught one year at Buena Vista Elementary School, four years at Valley Junior High School and twenty-two years at Carlsbad High School. During his teaching career, Rudy taught Spanish, English, English as a second language and physical education. He also taught adult classes in English as a second language at Mira Costa College for four years. During his time at Carlsbad High, he coached football, track and wrestling.

Rudy retired in 1995. During his retirement he continued his fishing trips to Baja, he took up gardening, wood carving, model building and reading.

He leaves behind his daughters, Patricia King (Steve) and Claudia Moreno, sister Christina Beck and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was pre-deceased by his wife, Mary Helen Davila Moreno, sisters Mary Helen Peters, Jenny Johnson, brother Bobby (Hippo) Moreno and his parents, Cipriano (C.P.) and Antonia Moreno.

In lieu of flowers, my dad asked that donations be made to the Carlsbad High School Scholarship Fund, 3557 Monroe Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, his ceremony will be private.

Burial will be 3/9/21 at 10:00 am at Eternal Hills. This will be open to the public with proper Covid-19 precautions being observed.