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Coworker's Eulogy to his friend and co-worker My name is John, and Ralph and I worked
for the same Local #3 contractor. I knew Ralph for his entire career as an
electrician. I was one of his first mechanics. I was also his partner, his
foreman and worked for him when he was a foreman. Ralph
would tell the story of how he almost quit the business because of me. The first
time we worked together was known as a “Blitz and Blow” which means as soon
as your job was finished, you were finished for the day. When I was told that my
helper was going to be a first day apprentice, I guess I was a little hard on
him. He would later tell me how he went home to his father and said, “Dad, if
every mechanic is like this louse, I’ll never make it.” To my good fortune
we went on to become the best of friends. Anyone
who ever worked with Ralph will attest to how kind, generous and unpretentious
he was. He loved being a union electrician. Always smiling and joking, a real
pleasure to be in his company. Ralph was a talented, hard worker. He knew the
code book and all questions were usually answered by “Ask Ralph.” As
a person of Italian descent I can tell you that Ralph’s diet was a train
wreck. He would eat Doritos and drink Diet Pepsi for breakfast, followed by Big
Macs and Chicken McNuggets for lunch EVERYDAY! The jobsite would be littered
with containers of Diet Pepsi on every convector. He would brag how he loved
Spaghettios. For
those who didn’t know, Ralph was a drummer, a pizza man, a Knicks and Jet fan,
listened to heavy metal music and was the only one I could trust to troubleshoot
my car or computer. He was an exceptional handball player who trounced me
routinely. He would bend his ears inside out and make everyone on the jobsite
laugh. His favorite movie was Dumb and Dumber. Yet his opinions on life and
politics could debate any intellectual. Let
me tell you a story Ralph had told to me recently. He said he received a phone
call from a boy in grammar school he hadn’t seen in fifteen to twenty years.
The fellow said, “Ralph, I just want to thank you.” Ralph said, “For
what?” He said, “When a group of bullies was picking on me, you were the
only one to stand up for me!” I think this speaks volumes about Ralph. He
hated to work overtime and loved nothing more than being home with Jennifer,
Ralph Jr. and Michael. Only through the use of profanity could I ever express
how angry I feel knowing how cheated Jennifer
and the boys are out of a life without this wonderful man and father. I
am going to miss him tremendously. From all of us in the construction trade who
knew and worked with Ralph, we say to Ralph’s parents, family, wife and
children… |
