Ralph was a devoted husband and father to his wife, Nora Paolinelli, for fifty-nine years, and a loving father to Ralph and Eric. He leaves behind his five grandchildren, Gianna, Ryan, Talia, Matthew, and Jacob. His brother Kirk and his wife Karen, sister Monika and her husband John, his daughters-in-law Janelle and Debbie, along with many cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his sister Angelica, and his parents, Geno and Vera Paolinelli. 

Ralph attended Howard and La Vina Elementaries before moving on to Madera High School, where he played basketball and played trumpet in the renowned “Show Band of the Valley,” under Alan Harkin. He graduated from Madera High School in 1964, earned his AA degree from Fresno City College in 1971, and later earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communications from California State University, Fresno in 1974. 

Throughout his life, Ralph worked in a variety of professions, including the Madera Tribune, Monty’s Liquor, McMahan’s Furniture, the Internal Revenue Service, and as a radio disc jockey at KXQR Radio in Clovis. In 1989, Ralph found his true calling in Technical Support at Sunrise Medical Quickie Motion Designs. He worked there for thirty years, where he enjoyed troubleshooting issues for customers and vendors in the medical device and wheelchair industry. 

Ralph’s greatest joy was his family and grandchildren. He was a lifelong sports enthusiast, cheering for Fresno State, the San Francisco 49ers, and the San Francisco Giants. In his free time, he loved reading, comedies, and spending time with his sons and their families. 

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, from 4-7 pm at Jay Chapel in Madera. A funeral service will be held on August 28, 2025, at 10 am at Jay Chapel, with internment immediately after at Calvary Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation