Ralph Rossi

Ralph Anthony Rossi
December 16, 1933- October 7, 2012
Resident of Menlo Park, Felton, Oakhurst
Naval Officer and International Businessman, Father of Five, Columbia and Harvard Graduate
Born in Chieti, Italy, he emigrated to New York City in 1935. Mr. Rossi was raised in the Bronx and graduated Commerce High before attending Columbia College. In the US Navy, his midshipman cruise was on the historic USS Missouri. As an active duty naval officer from 1955-1958, he proudly served on the destroyer escorts Tabberer and Greenwood and aircraft carrier Leyte. He retired as Commander from the US Naval Reserves in 1993. He graduated Harvard Business School in 1960 and served in corporate leadership positions for multiple international firms in New York and California. He owned and operated a family restaurant in Felton, California before retiring in 2005 after three decades of work in the Bay Area.
Cmdr. Rossi was a longtime volunteer for Boy Scouts of America and AYSO soccer in the Bay Area, and more recently volunteered for the Friends of the Oakhurst Branch Library. In retirement, he remained active in a number of part-time positions including corporate management, tax preparation and census survey supervision.
Cmdr. Rossi lent his uncommon intelligence, dedication and organization to everything he did. His sense of humor was legendary, and he could bring laughter to any situation. Mr. Rossi recognized the best qualities in everyone he met, enriching the lives of those around him.
Survived by his loving wife Martha A. (Sidlowski) Rossi, who he married in 1958; daughters Anne Marie Rossi and husband Jon Goldman of Acton, MA.; Elaine E. Rossi and husband V. Ted Leon of Honolulu; sons Ralph A. Rossi and wife Nancy Brunsvold of Bellevue, WA. ; Andrew F. Rossi and wife Courtenay Reese Rossi of Potomac, MD.; and Louis F. Rossi and wife Tammy of Newark, DE. Nine beautiful grandchildren will mourn his loss. Also surviving are in-laws Marie Rossi of New York Stanley and Irene Sidlowski of New Jersey, five nieces and nephews, and ten grand-nieces and nephews.
Pre-deceased by brothers John Rossi and naval officer Louis F. Rossi, and nephews Brian and Andrew Girouard.
Private burial at Arlington National Cemetery.
No flowers. Donations to: FOBL/Ralph Rossi Memorial Fund PO Box 1226, Oakhurst, CA, 93644.