Rodolfo Llobet
2009 Cor Jesu Award Recipients
Class of 1982
Rodolfo was born in Montreal, Canada and five days later moved to Astoria, Queens, where along with his older siblings Alexandre, also a McClancy graduate, and Elisabet, was raised by Josep and Ofelia Llobet.
While at McClancy, Rudy was a member of the Track Team, Physical Fitness Team, Library Club, Math Team, National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. After graduating from McClancy, Rudy attended Manhattan College for one year, before being accepted into the United States Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs. It was at the Academy where Rudy gained his love for flying as a glider instructor. In 1987, he received his BS in General Engineering.
Rudy was then cross-commissioned into the US Navy and attended Flight Training School in Pensacola, FL, the “Cradle of Naval Aviation” where he received his “Wings of Gold” in 1989. Rudy’s first official flight as a “Fleet Aviator” was in combat (1991). He flew 21 combat missions in support of Operation Desert Storm.
Rudy’s favorite job was as a Landing Signal Officer, who is responsible for the “safe and expeditious” recovery of aircraft.” In 1993 he was awarded Landing Signal Officer of the Year.
Since 1995, Rudy has been employed by United Airlines as a pilot and is an Air Line Pilots Association Safety Volunteer, where he is involved in safety and accident Investigations. Up until last year, he was a volunteer for the US Naval Academy as an interview officer, responsible for interviewing and rating prospective candidates for the Naval Academy. Throughout his career Rudy has flown over one dozen aircraft types and has amassed almost 10,000 flight hours
Rudy is still very active at McClancy and for several years he volunteered as a tutor in Math, Physics and Spanish. He currently resides in Maryland with the former Kelly Kathryn Walter, and four children: Anna (8), Rodolfo (7), Ignatius(5), Nicolas(3). When not traveling the US, South America, and Europe he spends much of his time helping Kelly home-school the older children, instilling those same values the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, the McClancy community, and the church instilled in him.