What was meant to be a “Summer of Celebration” was anything but for Rudy and Marion Santos.

About two years ago, Rudy was named the chairman of the Summer of Celebration Committee, which planned several events for this past summer to commemorate Wareham’s 275th birthday and the 200th anniversary of British troops invading the town in the War of 1812.

Coordinating the festivities took the work of a large group of volunteers, Rudy included. But in February of this year, he was faced with another challenge. His wife, Marion, fell ill, and spent the better part of the last eight-and-a-half months in three different hospitals, even flatlining on two separate occasions before being resuscitated.

“We were told to be prepared for her not making it,” said the 77-year-old Santos, noting that Marion, who is 82, spent extended periods at Tobey Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, and Tufts Medical Center in Boston after suffering through a heart attack, two strokes, and cardiovascular issues. “But she didn’t give up.”

Thankfully, after all of her hospital visits and five months on assisted breathing devices, Marion is now back at the couple’s British Landing condo in Wareham, where she’s doing quite well.

Through the course of Marion’s hospital visits and time spent at a rehab facility, Rudy continued to fulfill his duties as chair of the committee, but things weren’t easy.

“He was a basket case,” said Marion. “He was burnt out, but he survived it.”

Rudy said the help of countless individuals got he and his wife through the toughest of times.

“Every day, I’d come home from visiting her, and there’d be 15-20 voicemails,” said Rudy. “I want to thank everyone that really cared, called, or sent a card. We as a family really appreciated it.”

Originally from Brockton, Rudy, a retired facilities director at Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Marion, a retired healthcare consultant and registered nurse, moved to Onset about 30 years ago. Rudy was heavily involved in the community in Brockton, and he took that with him when he got to Wareham.

“Rudy’s a community person — I’m not,” said Marion.

When the couple arrived in Onset, the Onset Bay Association, which is still in existence, was just forming, and Santos joined the group in their efforts to better the area.

“It was a very interesting but very busy time,” he said, noting that the group initially formed following a murder in the village. “A lot of us put a lot of energy into that, but it was fun. We’d go out to dinner, we’d work hard, and we’d plan new events.”

Rudy said that out of the formation of the Onset Bay Association came events like the Onset Jazz Festival and the Onset Cape Verdean Festival, both of which are still currently going strong.

In 2011, Rudy joined a group of residents looking to honor the 10th anniversary of the tragedies occurring on 9/11.

“It was a big success in Onset,” he said.

It was following the 9/11 event that Santos was asked by residents Claire Smith and Nan Miller to be involved with the Summer of Celebration committee, who eventually nominated him to be the chairman.

“I was very humbled by that,” he said, adding that he was particularly honored because he was the first person of Cape Verdean descent to hold such a position in town. “To me, it showed that Wareham was progressing ahead.”

“I think Rudy is certainly a public-minded citizen,” said Bob White, co-chairman of the Wareham Veterans Day Celebration Committee and member of the Summer of Celebration Committee. “Based on his experience, he seems to pick up on social issues and occasions that might otherwise go unnoticed.”

White, who said he and Rudy are best friends, described the past year or so as having been a tremendous stress on Rudy.

“Trying to balance his external family and his responsibilities as he saw them as a chair of the Summer of Celebration—he’s certainly a mentor.”

In August, Santos was given an award for his years of service to both the communities of Brockton and Wareham—Sheriff Joseph McDonald Jr. named him an Honorary Deputy Sheriff for Plymouth County.

“I’ve worked with Rudy since I’ve been the Sheriff, and I’ve seen all the great things he’s done in the community,” said McDonald. “It was a natural thing that I wanted to honor Rudy somehow. He epitomizes everything that’s good about public service. He’s tried to be an icon for growth among the Cape Verdean community.”

“I think it’s very nice for him to be picked,” said Marion. “The kids and grandkids think it’s great.”

Though there were plenty of bumps along the way, Rudy said he considered the Summer of Celebration to have been a success, as were the months spent traveling back and forth to hospitals and the rehab facility to be with Marion.

“Once I get started on something, I have to see it through,” he said. “Like with the health of my wife— I had to see it through.”