Rudolph Pierce

Dr. Rudolph Walter Pierce, age 93, passed peacefully at his home in Attleboro, MA, on March 22, 2022, surrounded by the love of his wife of 63 years, Sidney Ann Pierce and family.

In addition to his wife, Rudolph is survived by three children and their families: daughter Gail Eleanor Pierce of Ashland, MA, and her child Anastasia Pierce McTaggart of Somerville, MA; son Robert Edward Pierce and his wife Carol Mervis, of Hopkinton, MA; and son Peter Andrew Pierce of Waltham, MA.

Born in Warren, RI, Rudolph was the son of Franciscek Pysz and Eva Soltys Pysz, and was one of seven children. He is survived by his brother Felix Pierce and husband of late wife Sally, of Virginia. Rudolph also fondly remembered his additional siblings and their spouses who predeceased him: Edward Pysz and wife Beverly; Francis C. Pierce and wife Lynette; Albina Jablecki and husband Kasmir, all of Rhode Island; Barbara West and husband Richard of Maryland; and Virginia Jovin and husband Barney, of Virginia. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews throughout the United States.

A graduate of LaSalle Academy, Providence, RI, Rudolph attended MIT, Cambridge, MA, and later graduated second in his class from Annapolis, the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. He also served three years during the Duang Korean conflict as a First Lieutenant in the US Air Force. He subsequently earned his Medical Degree from Harvard Medical School, and later earned an additional degree from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Rudolph practiced Obstetrics and Gynecology with Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Attleboro, MA for 33 years. Throughout his tenure at Sturdy, he championed the introduction and adoption of a multitude of significant advances in medicine including electronic fetal heart monitoring, laparoscopic surgery and laser surgery. He also served as Chief of the OB/GYN Department and Chair of the Executive Committee. In 1996, he retired from his practice at the OB-GYN Group of Attleboro, which he helped found.

Additionally, Rudolph was a member of numerous professional organizations including: the American Medical Association, the Massachusetts Medical Society, (through which he served the Bristol North District and was selected as Clinician of the Year, 2001), the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Naval War College, Newport, RI.

The family will host a private burial, and requests that donation be sent to:

The Sturdy Memorial Foundation
211 Park Street
PO Box 2963
Attleboro, MA 02703

OR

The Dana Farber Cancer Institute
PO Box 849168
Boston, MA 02884