Our deepest sympathy to Mark and all of Ralph’s family.
We met Ralph, my mother’s half brother, for the first time only 10 years ago, we consider it an honor to have known him. We came to know him as a cheerful, generous and loving man. He had a genuine, kindly love for his half sister, my mother, that showed in his eyes when he was around her. He was very kind to my mother and during a short visit he noticed she had an unfinished room, so on his next visit he finished that unfinished room. It was not an easy job to do as it involved cutting drywall and he was close to his middle 70’s by then! He just wanted to do something for his sister.
Ralph called my Mother several times a year to check up on her. She always enjoyed his calls and we all appreciated that he stayed in touch with her.
Since my Mother was not raised in the same family as Ralph, I found it especially interesting to hear him talk about his Mother who was also my mother’s mother but whom I’d never met. I feel that I came to know her a little bit through his descriptions of her.
I am sorry that I never got to see Ralph again. We very much enjoyed hearing some of his New York City cop stories. He will be missed.

Valorie and Tom Stackpole