RALPH A. PFINGSTEN

I spent many wonderful days in southern Ohio with Ralph searching for mud salamanders, red salamanders and hellbenders. We also documented every roadkill we encountered. It was a joy to hike with him and I learned a lot. I will miss him dearly.

Ralph is one of the greatest guys I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and working with

Ralph so generously shared his knowledge and love of nature and history -often with a touch of humor. His books and presentations were always enlightening and fun. He was truly a unique individual and will be sadly missed.

The Pfingsten Family was very active at Cleveland's Bethany Lutheran Church (as was mine), so we sort of grew up there together, altho he was a dozen years older than me. At Newton D. Baker Jr. High, I was Ralph's Mom's office aide (Edna?). Mostly I ran off mimeographed papers (purply-blue ink), delivered papers to teachers, filed things, etc. A kind, caring, hard-working Mom/ Boss. Later at John Marshall High School, son Ralph was one of my favorite Science Teachers, who helped develop in us...

Only met Ralph a couple of years ago, but I found him to be an all-around nice guy. Very committed to the museum to which we both belonged.

Ralph was a wonderful man- both as a colleague in exploration of local history and a friend.