Ralph Kaufman

1918 - 2017

Ralph Kaufman, 99, died in his home in Silver Spring, MD on November 21, 2017, surrounded by his family and his devoted aide.

Ralph was born on July 6, 1918 in Pittsfield, MA - a badge he wore proudly throughout his life. The eldest son of Joseph Kaufman and Esther Gitelman, Ralph received a business degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1940 and attended officer training school upon graduation.

In April 1944, Ralph married Dorothy Ellen Borden, his wife of 67 years. Shortly after their marriage, Ralph was deployed to Europe to serve in World War II - a defining period in his life. He reached Normandy just weeks after the invasion and served in the supply unit of the 31st anti-aircraft group. Years later, Ralph would proudly show his grandchildren photos of his visit to Berghof - Adolf Hitler's abandoned vacation home in Berchtesgaden, Bavaria - soon after the war ended. He left the Army in 1946 after rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Returning from the war, Ralph and Dorothy settled in Rockville Centre, NY, where they raised their four children, Jane, Emily, John (d.1979) and Jim. Ralph joined his father-in-law in the family toy business, Jaymar Specialty Company, which he later took over and ran as President until his retirement in 1990s. The Jaymar puzzles, produced under an exclusive license with Walt Disney Productions, proved popular with millions of children, and Jaymar pianos became the Steinway of toy pianos in the 1950s. Ralph's work at Jaymar regularly brought him to Japan, where he developed a lasting appreciation for the country and made lifelong friends. He was excited to return a last time with his extended family in 2013 to celebrate his 95th birthday.

After retirement, Ralph and Dorothy became snow birds, moving part-time to Lighthouse Point, FL and later to the Washington D.C. area, where Ralph continued to form new friendships well into his 90s. Throughout his life, Ralph delighted in finding a "Pittsfield connection" with the countless people he befriended. Each summer, he returned to the Berkshires to spend time with his extended family, including his late sister Elinor Baker and brother Howard Kaufman, and to attend an annual luncheon for the Dawes Junior High School Class of 1933, of which he was among the last remaining members.

Ralph was a larger-than-life presence in the lives of his children, grandchildren, and friends. Everyone who knew him became part of his extended family.

He was generous, fun-loving, engaging, and active - whether he was fishing, golfing, cheating at cards with his grandkids, or sending out thousands of grapefruits from his backyard tree affectionately known as Kaufman Orchard.

Ralph is survived, missed, and deeply loved by his children, Jane, Emily (and her husband Antoine), and Jim (and his wife Jill), seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter.