Ralph Earle III, affectionately known as Randy, passed away on December 26, 2025 in Lincoln MA at the age of 57, after a courageous battle with Adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), a rare genetic degenerative neurological condition which manifested in his late 20's.
Randy was born on September 8, 1968 in Hartford, CT, the son of Shirley Smith Earle and Dr. Ralph Earle, Jr. (Skip). He grew up on Ripley Ridge Farm in Weston, MA with his family, his dog Mazy, a cat named Tigger, a flock of sheep, and several ponies and horses. He was fond of playing ice hockey, baseball, and lacrosse, downhill skiing, traveling to Florida to watch Red Sox spring training games, and spending summers at a canoe camp in Vermont and on Cape Cod with his extended family. He went to high school at Darrow, a boarding school in Lebanon, NY. He graduated with a B.A. from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, where he majored in Art History, played lacrosse, and was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
After college, Randy and his girlfriend, Leslie Haynes, moved to Portland, OR, where he adopted his first Welsh Corgi, Vip. In the spring of 1997, Randy received an M.A. in Counseling Psychology at Lewis and Clark College. On August 10, 1997, Randy married Leslie at Black Butte Ranch in Sisters, OR. For two years, he worked as a Counselor at the Mount Hood Community Mental Health Center in Portland.
In late 2000, Randy, Leslie, and Vip moved to Massachusetts to be closer to Randy's family. Several years later, Randy and Leslie bought a loft in the up and coming art and design district in the South End of Boston (SOWA). Randy befriended many of the artists who lived in his building and enjoyed exploring SOWA's galleries, restaurants, shops, and open-air art and farmers markets. For six years, he worked as a Mental Health Counselor at Bay State Community Mental Health Center and a Student Services Counselor at Quincy Community College. In early 2006, he designed and launched a website named after his ever optimistic mantra: "we will find a way," to provide advice and information about issues concerning accessibility and inclusion to individuals with disabilities and their families as well as to organizations seeking to comply with the ADA.
In the summer of 2006, Randy, Leslie, and Vip traveled back to the West Coast to live in Seattle WA. Randy fell in love with the Emerald City's stunning natural scenery, easily accessible ferries to nearby islands, commitment to environmentalism and sustainable practices, liberal-minded spirit, vibrant and diverse arts scene, passionate coffee culture, and abundant varieties of fresh oysters. After settling into a beautifully designed and functionally accessible loft in the Pioneer District, Randy continued to develop his website, wewillfindaway.org, posted many humorous and poignant articles, and became actively involved in raising awareness of obstacles affecting wheelchair users living in Seattle.
In the spring of 2010, after the passing of his beloved Corgi Vip, Randy adopted another Corgi named Gus. In 2011, Randy completed an M.A. in Education at Seattle University. From 2013 until 2020, he worked as a Student Counselor and Academic Advisor in the TRIO program at Seattle Community College, a program supporting first-generation college students, low-income students, and students with disabilities.
Randy had a special ability to connect with others and to charm and disarm all with his dry humor, smile, booming voice, and the twinkle in his eye. He was often seen wheeling himself around the Pioneer Square neighborhood with his Corgi, Gus, trotting along at his side, stopping at shops, galleries, and coffee spots, and chatting with store owners, neighbors, and strangers. He was known as the "Mayor of Pioneer Square."
Randy possessed a seemingly endless capacity for compassion and empathy, and always maintained a sense of humor, despite the tremendous and increasing challenges he faced due to AMN. Diagnosed at age 27, Randy bravely adapted to an increasing need to use a wheelchair and was seemingly undaunted by new and challenging experiences. Somehow he found ways to see the positive of his debilitating condition as it allowed him to observe the very best in people. He acted on the outrage he felt about the limitations caused by his condition by advocating for change and solutions to the myriad barriers and biases facing the physically disabled in virtually all areas of life and society.
As a consultant to the City of Seattle on disability rights, Randy successfully campaigned to persuade officials to ensure all sidewalks had "curb cuts" at cross walks, a sloped entry to the sidewalk from the street, instead of an insurmountable 9-inch step. In acknowledgement of Randy's tireless advocacy for those without a voice, his dedication to the rights of those with disabilities, and his collaboration with Pioneer Square businesses to create inclusive and accessible spaces, the Mayor of Seattle proclaimed, February 24, 2020, to be Ralph Earle III day in the City.
Randy loved to entertain. He taught himself to cook and prepared delicious meals for friends in his loft in Seattle using fresh seafood and local fruits, vegetables, herbs, cheeses, and eggs gathered from neighborhood farmers markets. He also took pleasure in discovering and serving renowned red wines from the Pacific Northwest.
Randy's disabling condition did not dampen his sense of adventure or desire to travel. He boarded ferries to many of the islands in the Salish Sea, including Bainbridge, San Juan, Vashon, and Whidbey, cruised the Columbia River, explored the Olympic Peninsula and the American Southwest, spent time in the Canadian province of British Columbia, drove down the California coast, and tasted wines at Willamette, Yakima, and Napa Valley vineyards. Randy particularly enjoyed traveling with his friend John Grace to England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and France and savoring the food, wine, and glorious countryside during his several trips to Italy with friends and family.
Randy was a loving and supportive uncle to his four nieces, Emily, Lindsey, Isabel, and April.
Randy was a longtime, die-hard fan of all Boston professional sports teams, particularly the Red Sox and Celtics, and watched and listened to countless games on television and in person, often with his father, Skip, or friends and fellow fans Evan Falchuk, Rob Griffin, and Jason Gish. Memorable occasions included going to playoff games at Fenway Park in 2004 when the Red Sox beat the Yankees in the American League Championship Series and the Cardinals in the World Series, traveling with Rob to Cooperstown NY in 2022 to see the induction of David Ortiz into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and watching the Celtics finally win their 18th NBA championship in 2024.
In late 2023, after his divorce from Leslie, Randy and his faithful canine companion, Gus, moved from Seattle to Lincoln, MA to be close to Randy's immediate family.
Randy is survived by his sisters, Alison and Cynthia Earle, their husbands Stephen Lichtman and Stephen Barnard, his nieces, Emily and Lindsey Barnard and Isabel and April Lichtman, numerous cousins and their children, and a wide circle of dear friends.
A memorial service will be held at the Weston Art & Innovation Center, 356 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Donations may be made in Randy's name to ALDconnect.org or https://donate.amnestyusa.org.
Randy was born on September 8, 1968 in Hartford, CT, the son of Shirley Smith Earle and Dr. Ralph Earle, Jr. (Skip). He grew up on Ripley Ridge Farm in Weston, MA with his family, his dog Mazy, a cat named Tigger, a flock of sheep, and several ponies and horses. He was fond of playing ice hockey, baseball, and lacrosse, downhill skiing, traveling to Florida to watch Red Sox spring training games, and spending summers at a canoe camp in Vermont and on Cape Cod with his extended family. He went to high school at Darrow, a boarding school in Lebanon, NY. He graduated with a B.A. from Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, where he majored in Art History, played lacrosse, and was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
After college, Randy and his girlfriend, Leslie Haynes, moved to Portland, OR, where he adopted his first Welsh Corgi, Vip. In the spring of 1997, Randy received an M.A. in Counseling Psychology at Lewis and Clark College. On August 10, 1997, Randy married Leslie at Black Butte Ranch in Sisters, OR. For two years, he worked as a Counselor at the Mount Hood Community Mental Health Center in Portland.
In late 2000, Randy, Leslie, and Vip moved to Massachusetts to be closer to Randy's family. Several years later, Randy and Leslie bought a loft in the up and coming art and design district in the South End of Boston (SOWA). Randy befriended many of the artists who lived in his building and enjoyed exploring SOWA's galleries, restaurants, shops, and open-air art and farmers markets. For six years, he worked as a Mental Health Counselor at Bay State Community Mental Health Center and a Student Services Counselor at Quincy Community College. In early 2006, he designed and launched a website named after his ever optimistic mantra: "we will find a way," to provide advice and information about issues concerning accessibility and inclusion to individuals with disabilities and their families as well as to organizations seeking to comply with the ADA.
In the summer of 2006, Randy, Leslie, and Vip traveled back to the West Coast to live in Seattle WA. Randy fell in love with the Emerald City's stunning natural scenery, easily accessible ferries to nearby islands, commitment to environmentalism and sustainable practices, liberal-minded spirit, vibrant and diverse arts scene, passionate coffee culture, and abundant varieties of fresh oysters. After settling into a beautifully designed and functionally accessible loft in the Pioneer District, Randy continued to develop his website, wewillfindaway.org, posted many humorous and poignant articles, and became actively involved in raising awareness of obstacles affecting wheelchair users living in Seattle.
In the spring of 2010, after the passing of his beloved Corgi Vip, Randy adopted another Corgi named Gus. In 2011, Randy completed an M.A. in Education at Seattle University. From 2013 until 2020, he worked as a Student Counselor and Academic Advisor in the TRIO program at Seattle Community College, a program supporting first-generation college students, low-income students, and students with disabilities.
Randy had a special ability to connect with others and to charm and disarm all with his dry humor, smile, booming voice, and the twinkle in his eye. He was often seen wheeling himself around the Pioneer Square neighborhood with his Corgi, Gus, trotting along at his side, stopping at shops, galleries, and coffee spots, and chatting with store owners, neighbors, and strangers. He was known as the "Mayor of Pioneer Square."
Randy possessed a seemingly endless capacity for compassion and empathy, and always maintained a sense of humor, despite the tremendous and increasing challenges he faced due to AMN. Diagnosed at age 27, Randy bravely adapted to an increasing need to use a wheelchair and was seemingly undaunted by new and challenging experiences. Somehow he found ways to see the positive of his debilitating condition as it allowed him to observe the very best in people. He acted on the outrage he felt about the limitations caused by his condition by advocating for change and solutions to the myriad barriers and biases facing the physically disabled in virtually all areas of life and society.
As a consultant to the City of Seattle on disability rights, Randy successfully campaigned to persuade officials to ensure all sidewalks had "curb cuts" at cross walks, a sloped entry to the sidewalk from the street, instead of an insurmountable 9-inch step. In acknowledgement of Randy's tireless advocacy for those without a voice, his dedication to the rights of those with disabilities, and his collaboration with Pioneer Square businesses to create inclusive and accessible spaces, the Mayor of Seattle proclaimed, February 24, 2020, to be Ralph Earle III day in the City.
Randy loved to entertain. He taught himself to cook and prepared delicious meals for friends in his loft in Seattle using fresh seafood and local fruits, vegetables, herbs, cheeses, and eggs gathered from neighborhood farmers markets. He also took pleasure in discovering and serving renowned red wines from the Pacific Northwest.
Randy's disabling condition did not dampen his sense of adventure or desire to travel. He boarded ferries to many of the islands in the Salish Sea, including Bainbridge, San Juan, Vashon, and Whidbey, cruised the Columbia River, explored the Olympic Peninsula and the American Southwest, spent time in the Canadian province of British Columbia, drove down the California coast, and tasted wines at Willamette, Yakima, and Napa Valley vineyards. Randy particularly enjoyed traveling with his friend John Grace to England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and France and savoring the food, wine, and glorious countryside during his several trips to Italy with friends and family.
Randy was a loving and supportive uncle to his four nieces, Emily, Lindsey, Isabel, and April.
Randy was a longtime, die-hard fan of all Boston professional sports teams, particularly the Red Sox and Celtics, and watched and listened to countless games on television and in person, often with his father, Skip, or friends and fellow fans Evan Falchuk, Rob Griffin, and Jason Gish. Memorable occasions included going to playoff games at Fenway Park in 2004 when the Red Sox beat the Yankees in the American League Championship Series and the Cardinals in the World Series, traveling with Rob to Cooperstown NY in 2022 to see the induction of David Ortiz into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and watching the Celtics finally win their 18th NBA championship in 2024.
In late 2023, after his divorce from Leslie, Randy and his faithful canine companion, Gus, moved from Seattle to Lincoln, MA to be close to Randy's immediate family.
Randy is survived by his sisters, Alison and Cynthia Earle, their husbands Stephen Lichtman and Stephen Barnard, his nieces, Emily and Lindsey Barnard and Isabel and April Lichtman, numerous cousins and their children, and a wide circle of dear friends.
A memorial service will be held at the Weston Art & Innovation Center, 356 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Donations may be made in Randy's name to ALDconnect.org or https://donate.amnestyusa.org.
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