Ralph Desiderio

Ralph Desiderio, 78, passed away on August 28, 2017 at his home. He was born in Queens, moved to Long Island and then to Manhattan. He was actively involved in playing baseball, basketball, hockey, handball, stickball and softball in various leagues. In 1965 he moved to Staten Island. Ralph graduated from NYC Community College with an A.A.S. Degree in Electrical Technology and then attended NY Institute of Technology. He served in the U.S. Army, and was ultimately promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant (E6). During his service, he was awarded two commendations and received a Sharpshooter's Medal with the M-1 rifle. In 1968 he was honorably discharged as a Specialist Sixth Class (E6), having expertise in many military occupational specialities. Ralph coached, managed and was elected to Vice President in the South Shore Little League. He also was elected to S.S. Little League's Board of Directors, serving 4 years. During that period, he was instrumental in the construction of playing fields on Page Ave. and the creation of the Girl's Softball program. He later served as a consultant to the President of the Staten Island South Shore's Babe Ruth League. Years later, he coached and managed an all female softball team in the S.I.'s Fast Pitch League. Ralph worked for AT&T, Western Electric, Bell Telephone Laboratories and Verizon for 37 years, retiring in 1994 as a District Staff Manager. During his career, he developed two patents, one in low speed data transmission and the other in high speed data testing. He was a lifetime member of The Telephone Pioneers of America, being inducted in 1974. While with AT&T, Ralph played softball in their league and boasted a career batting average of .570 while playing centerfield and shortshop. He also worked in the construction industry for 7 years before retiring in 2001. Ralph enjoyed designing, building and repairing electronic equipment, woodworking, writing books, computer programming, landscape painting, listening to music and chatting with people on-line all over the world via the internet. He married his wife Jane in 1965 and in 1997 at the age of 51 years old, she passed away. He is survived by his children, Ralph, Jr., Laura Booras and Kristen Urli; his sister Marie Focarile and his seven grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday at Holy Child Church located at 4747 Amboy Road, SINY. Entombment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, SINY. The family will receive friends from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. on Thursday at the John Vincent Scalia Home for Funerals, Inc., 28 Eltingville Blvd., (at Eltingville Station) Staten Island, New York.

Ralph Desiderio

April 4, 1939 - August 28, 2017