The sudden death last weekend of Rudy Valverde, a much loved parent, soccer aficionado and booster of Culver City High School, still has the campus reeling — and coming to the family’s aid.
Funeral services are pending, according to officials.
Mr. Valverde was a father of three children, two in college and one a student at the high school.
Friends say the family can use monetary donations, and the high school is pitching in directly.
Checks may be made out to “Katherine Valverde,” the widow.
They should be sent to:
Culver City High School
Attn. Ms. Margaret Fujisawa
44011 Elenda St.
Culver City 90230
Soccer, as nearly everyone on campus knows, is a passion in the Valverde family, and he was heavily involved in the AYSO programs. Mr. Valverde’s brother, Carlos, is the boys soccer coach.
A touching moment occurred on Monday night on the athletic field when Culver High’s girls soccer team played at El Segundo.
Rudy Valverde’s daughter, Liliana, a ninth-grader on Coach Scott Mair’s team, had decided to participate in the match.
On this most difficult occasion, school officials said the Valverde family, including grandparents, was well represented in the stands.
Persons who were at the soccer match said Ms. Valverde entered the field head down.
But, she noticeably perked up when she gazed into the stands and spotted the
strong turnout of relatives cheering her on.
Of her participation, Ms. Valverde said later, “My dad was a soccer coach. This is what he would have wanted me to do.”
In tribute to Mr. Valverde, the boys soccer team yesterday asked and received permission to wear black armbands.
