Ralph Frank Moceo
August 20, 1935 – May 10, 2018
Resident of Aptos
Ralph Frank Moceo, known for his love of family, friends, cars and Italian cooking, died on May 10, 2018. He was 82.
Ralph was born August 20, 1935, in San Jose, California. The son of Edward and Jean Moceo, he grew up in Santa Cruz, where he attended Holy Cross School. He graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory and Santa Clara University, where he made lifelong friends.
At the age of 27, Ralph became President of E.V. Moceo, Co. Inc., his family's packing and shipping produce business, after his father's unexpected death.
To his many friends, who enjoyed legendary meals at his artistic home, Ralph was a creative chef, convivial entertainer and catalyst for fun. He was generous and gracious to people from every walk of life. Holidays were always enjoyed with his family. As founder of the Mostaccioli Club, Ralph shared his love of Italian food with close friends. With natural rapport, he made sure his dinner guests savored feasts of pasta, seasonal vegetables, olive oil, red wine, and homemade cucidati or cannoli.
Ralph will best be remembered as a man with an engaging smile, youthful energy, and fabulous style. He truly epitomized La Dolce Vita. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family.
Ralph is survived by his sister, Franca Ghielmetti; nephew, Jeff (Cindy) Ghielmetti; nieces, Edie (Scott) Givens and Jena Yankovich; grandnephews, Greg Givens and Nico Yankovich; grandnieces, Christina Ghielmetti, Gina Givens, Victoria Ghielmetti, and Olivia Yankovich; and his loving partner, Carol Anglin.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, May 21, at 1:30 pm at Bellarmine College Preparatory, Leontyne Chapel, 960 W Hedding St., San Jose, CA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are welcome in his name to Hospice of Santa Cruz County.
If you would like to send your condolences to Ralph's family please visit www.scmemorial.com
View the online memorial for Ralph Frank Moceo
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Sponsored by San Jose Mercury News.
2 Entries
In about 1974 when I came home from the Navy I needed a commercial driver license. George Domenichelli introduced me to Ralph and Ralph made his tractor/trailer rig available to us whenever we wanted it. For the next month whenever George and I had a few spare hours the Domenichelli Truck Driving School was in session. Ralph never allowed me to compensate him for fuel or wear and tear on the truck because as far as he was concerned if I was a friend of George's I was a friend of his. After I got the license I took Ralph a bottle of brandy as a small token of my appreciation...Ralph made me feel as though that was the greatest gift anyone had ever given him.
And yes, Ralph truly was gracious to people from every walk of life...years ago when "Bicycle Bill" was down and out Ralph engaged Bill as a "security guard" at the packing shed so he would have a safe sheltered place to spend the night. Years later I ended up living next door to Ralph's mother...it was pretty easy to see where Ralph got his charisma and generosity.
Barry Marchisio
May 19, 2018
JEFF SCARGILL
May 19, 2018
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