Ralph Chavez was born on June 15, 1940 and passed away on May 18, 2015. He was a classroom teacher at T.G. Barr Elementary School in the Roosevelt School District for 245 years. He graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Elementary Education with emphasis on Physical Education. He was one of ten children that were raised in the farming communities of Chandler and Tempe. He was the youngest of six sons. He worked as a farm laborer alongside his siblings, which instilled in him a strong work ethic, resiliency, and a competitive spirit to succeed. While attending ASU, he played semi-professional football for the Western Football League teams, the Phoenix Blazers, and the Los Angeles Mustangs. After graduating from ASU, he was drafted to play professional football for the Dallas Cowboys. After sustaining and injury, he returned to teach in the Roosevelt School District where he taught physical education and retired in 2005. His hard work, school leadership, adn commitment to the youth has been widely recognized by students, parents, and teachers. He developed summer and after-school programs for disadvantaged youth to help them come to school and stay in school. His teams received various awards and championships in basketball and football, both locally and throughout the southwest. He received the NAACP Freedom Award which he shared with Jerry Colangelo for his commitment to youth sports and education. In 2007 he was inducted into the Tempe High School 100th Anniversary Hall of Fame. He received the Esperanza (hope) Award, which recognized Hispanic Teacher Leadership. "Coach Chavez" as his students referred to him, brought inspiration to generations of students, many of whom went on to play semi-pro adn professionally. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Magdaleno and Paula Chavez, sisters Concepcion Paiz (Sabino), Paula Rodriquez (Henry), Helen Chavarria (Rudy), brothers Madgaleno (Elva), Manuel (Margaret), Mark, and Tony (Viola). Surviving siblings are brother, Isidro and sister, Lucy Urias. A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, June 26, 2015 at 9:30 am with a reading of the Holy Rosary at 9:00 AM at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Catholic Church, 2121 N Rural Rd, Tempe, AZ. Interment of Ralph's cremated remains will follow immediately at St. Francis Cemetery, 2033 N 48th St, Phoenix, AZ. There will be a reception immediately following the burial at St. Margaret Catholich Church, 2435 E McArthur Dr, Tempe, AZ. Arrangements entrusted to Tempe Mortuary, Tempe, AZ.
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