Following up on my earlier post about the tragic death of NDLS 3L Ryan Rudd… according to Notre Dame News & Information, “[Ryan’s] juris doctor degree will be awarded posthumously at Notre Dame’s Commencement exercises May 20.”

Well, that’s a lovely gesture. It will also make commencement very emotional. Anyway, here is Ryan’s obituary from the Mansfield News Journal of Mansfield, Ohio:

CRESTLINE — Ryan A. Rudd, 31, of 2295 Huber Road, died Saturday, April 7, 2007, at James Cancer Hospital, Columbus.

He was born in Galion on June 18, 1975, to Robert H. Rudd, of Galion, and Judith D. Klahn Rudd, of Crestline.

Ryan was a graduate of Colonel Crawford H.S., class of 1993. He attended Ashland University, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ava Maria College, Ypsilanti, Mich., Franciscan Univ., Steubenville, Athenaeum of Ohio Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Cincinnati, and the Univ. of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind. Ryan would have graduated from the Univ. of Notre Dame law school in May 2007.

He was a member of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Shelby.

Also surviving are two brothers, Robert E. Rudd, Galion, Troy A. Rudd, Crestline; paternal grandmother, Maggie Rudd, Galion; aunts and uncles, Vicki and Steve Carr, Galion, Cindy Hoffman, Crestline, Georgie and Jack Kelso, Galion, Rupert Rudd, New Washington, Dale and Fran Rudd, Fairfax, Va., Kenny and Nancy Shuster, Galion, Rushel and Sue Rudd, Crestline, Cedrick and Debbie Rudd, Galion; and several cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Eugene and Edith Klahn; paternal grandfather, Giley Rudd; and uncle, Cecil Rudd.

Friends may call Wednesday, April 11, 2007 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Mark A. Schneider Funeral Home, Crestline, where a Vigil Service will be at 8:30 p.m., conducted by Father Nicholas Cunningham. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 12, at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Shelby, with Father Nicholas Cunningham, Celebrant. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery, Crestline.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of the funeral home.

Also, here’s another nice photo of Ryan, this one from Chris Wilson:

At the Basilica for Chris’s confirmation: Chris, Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison, Wisconsin, and Ryan (who was Chris’s confirmation sponsor).

On Facebook, Chris writes, “You were one of my best friends and it breaks my heart to lose you. You’ll always be in my prayers.”