Tribute to my Uncle Ralph from his nephew Frank,
This is in honor of one of the greatest, most kind, caring, loving and funniest people I have ever met, my Uncle Ralph. I have so many great, fond memories with him. The first time I ever remember meeting my Uncle Ralph, I was 7 and living in my apartment in Broomall, PA. My Mom can verify this. He came over to visit us with my Aunt Re-Re. He gave me a hug, and asked me how I was doing that day. Later that night, as I was staying up past bed time, (I guess Mom let me get away with it) I ran up to him. He acted like he couldn’t see me. He told me I was invisible. I jumped on him, tickled him, pulled on his moustache, and did everything I could to make sure he knew I was NOT invisible. These are the kind of things he did to mess with me, and reflecting back, they are what I will cherish about him forever. There were so many GREAT times that I had with him. I remember when I was in my teens, (I think Mike was a baby) we travelled down to my Aunt Marie’s in Wildwood, NJ on vacation in their Camaro. We started going past the grounds of the South State Correctional Facility in Delmont, New Jersey. He tells my Aunt Re-Re “Marie, I think we’re having engine trouble..we might be out of gas”. I wasn’t sure if he was kidding or not. My Aunt Re-Re curls up in a ball at the floor of the car and starts saying “Sacred Heart of Jesus” as he’s pretending to check his engine and the tires for a flat. I looked as he went around the car a second time, and he had that goofy, hilarious “Gotcha”! smile on his face. Whether it was that, him trying to give me a “zito” or him singing “Hey Marie” by Louie Prima, you would crack up sometimes just by looking at him, and look forward what he’d do next. I remember staying over late and watching SNL with him and my cousin Ralph.
Uncle Ralph did more than make me laugh, though. He was there for me when I needed him. One night, I was at home in Thorndale. All the sudden, I was getting serious kidney pain. I was laying on the floor and couldn’t get up. I didn’t know what to do, and I called him when they lived in Downingtown. My parents were in Florida at the time. He rushed over, saw me and said “You don’t look OK, I’m taking you to the emergency room.” That was the serious and kind side of him that I loved about him ,too. I said my left side where my kidney was, really hurt. He rushed me to Brandywine Hospital. I had a major kidney infection, as it turned I’ll miss you Uncle Ralph more than words could ever truly express, and will always love you very much, my crazy, cool, loving Uncle. Uncle Ralph helped me out so many more times than even that. I’ll always love you and miss you more than words can truly and properly express, Uncle Ralph. We had so many fun times and memories down the shore at Aunt Marie’s with him, Aunt Re-Re, Sandy and Mike. He would lend Mike, Sandy and I money at Wildwood Casino, and we would play skee-ball and everything else there for hours until we were ready to pass out….or we would golf at Duffers. He spoiled us all the time. You’re the best uncle ever, Uncle Ralph. I was so blessed to have God make him a part of my life. Thanks for everything, Uncle Ralph. I will always love you so much. I'll see you again in heaven.
Love,
Your nephew,
Frank