Ralph Gastiaburo, Jr.

Ralph Gastiaburo, 69, passed away on Friday, September 22, 2023. Ralph was the eldest of 6 children to Anna and Ralph Gastiaburo of Staten Island, NY born on August 28, 1954. Raised in West Brighton, Ralph attended St. Peters Catholic High School and later graduated from Wagner High School, in June of 1972. He continued his education at Wagner College, where he graduated with an Associates Degree. He spent time working as an EMT and served in the United States Army's 1st Cavalry Division before embarking on a career in Law Enforcement. Ralph joined the New York City Police Department in 1982 and retired as a Sergeant in 2002. In 2003, he relocated to Frisco, Texas and spent an additional ten years serving in various areas of Law Enforcement until he transitioned to Frisco Independent School District, as a bus operator, a profession Ralph enjoyed and took pride in. Ralph held many titles: husband, dad, brother, son, friend, Daddy Ralph, Papito, Pappy, Mr. G, Mr. Ralph, Mr. Clean, Shihan, Kancho, and, perhaps his most well-known title, Sensei. Ralph's love for Karate and the Martial Arts started as a young man, training alongside his father, Ralph Gastiaburo Sr. And his brothers, his passion continued in his teenage years, and throughout his life. Ralph applied the discipline he learned from Martial Arts to his everyday life, he was very meticulous, especially when it came to keeping things clean! Ralph loved his family and his dogs. He always was enthusiastic about family gatherings and spent recent years traveling from coast to coast to spend time with his wife and his loved ones. Ralph was always down to go for a ride or asked you to take one with him, up for a challenge in basketball or volleyball. He enjoyed fishing with his friends, children and grandsons. The protector of his family, wife, sisters and most of all his daughters. Ralph met his wife Jo-Ann Murphy Gastiaburo, of 43 years, in his hometown of Staten Island, New York on the dance floor. They wed on October 5, 1980 at St. Margaret Mary's Roman Catholic Church. The first of their three children was born on November 12, 1981. Ralph was predeceased by his parents Ralph and Anna Gastiaburo, his brothers Robert and Joseph Gastiaburo, as well as his nephew Joseph Gastiaburo. Survived by his wife Jo-Ann, eldest daughter Colleen, his sons Ralph, Michael and Nicholas and his youngest daughter, Lauren. Grandfather to Brittany, Joseph, Ralph IV, Jaxon, Gabe, Christian and Great Grandfather to Alyssa, Caleb, Isaiah and Julianna. Ralph was also survived by his beloved sisters Diana, Rachel and Millie. To know Ralph, was to love Ralph and Ralph was loved by all those he knew. We invite you to join us as we say our final farewells at John Vincent Scalia Funeral Home, located at 28 Eltingville Blvd., Staten Island, NY on Thursday, October 5, 2023 from 2-5pm & 7-9pm. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 AM Friday morning at St. Patrick's Church in Richmond Town. Entombment will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery located at the junctures of Clove Road, Bement Avenue and Tyler Place. In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St. Judes Children's Research Hospital would be greatly appreciated.

Ralph Gastiaburo, Jr.

August 28, 1954 - September 22, 2023