Ralph A. Mazza Sr.

Ralph Anthony Mazza Sr., 88, of Franklin Township, passed away Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. "The true gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deeds follow his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe." When John Walter Wayland wrote that in 1899, little did he know that he was describing Ralph Anthony Mazza Sr. Born Nov. 18, 1925, in Connellsville, Ralph graduated from Connellsville High School, Class of 1943. He served throughout the European Theater in World War II in the 66th Division of the 263rd Anti-Tank Infantry. Ralph was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, European-African-Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Liberation of France Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star. After the war, Ralph played semi-pro football for the Elizabeth Merchants and the Port Vue Quakers. Ralph lived a long and active life dedicating himself to his family, his community and his profession. A Tool and Die maker by trade, Ralph worked 32 years for Anchor Hocking Cap, of Connellsville. He was an active member of the Glass Bottle Blowers Union Local No. 188, where he served as shop steward and as a member of the Business Committee. For many young men growing up in the Tri-Town area during the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Mazza will always be remembered as a great influence on their lives as their Cub Scout Pack Leader, their Booster League Football coach or Pony League Baseball coach. An avid bowler, Ralph bowled in the Anchor League for more than 50 years. This current season, at nearly 89 years of age, Ralph averaged more than 160. He also served the league president the last several years. There is nothing in his life of which he was more proud or more devoted to than his three grandchildren. "Papa" was always ready to play a game, be a horsey or drive 600 miles to see a play in which a grandchild had even a minor role. In recent years, Ralph served the community as a political activist. He would work tirelessly campaigning for candidates and was a regular attendee of Fayette County Commissioner meetings and Uniontown Area High School District Board Meetings. Most recently, he was a key player in defeating the proposed jail initiative for the county. Ralph is survived by his wife of 62 years, Geraldine "Jerrie" Mazza, of Vanderbilt; his son, Ralph Mazza Jr. and wife, Liz, of Winter Haven, Fla.; his daughter, Michele Clayton and husband, Jim, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; his daughter, Melanie Phillips and husband, Jeff, of Natick, Mass.; his son, Rich Mazza and wife, Patty, of Mt. Pleasant; his granddaughter, Katie Phillips, of Cambridge, Mass.; his grandson, Jacob Phillips, of Pittsburgh; his granddaughter, Keli Mazza, of Mobile, Ala.; his surrogate granddaughter, Dr. Erica Smith, of Pittsburgh; his brother, Michael "Mickey" Mazza and wife, Dolores, of Connellsville; his sisters-in-law, Aquilla Nagy, of Monongahela, and Sandra Russell, of Levittown; his brother-in-law, Joe Tignanelli and wife, Sherri, of Elizabeth; his nieces, Andrea Tignanelli and Carol Tignanelli, of Jefferson; his brother-in-law, Frank Tignanelli and wife, Phyllis, of Bunola; and numerous other nieces and nephews. Ralph was predeceased by his parents, Ferdinand and Catherine (D'Auria) Mazza; his brother, Vincent Mazza; his uncles, Ralph Mazza, Gabriel D'Auria and Michael D'Auria; his aunts, Antoinette D'Auria and Ada D'Auria; his cousins, Pasqual D'Auria, Dr. Thomas D'Auria, Vincent D'Auria, Michael D'Auria and Frank Serra; his brother-in-law, Andrew Tignanelli; and sister-in-law, Yvonne Tignanelli. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the VITO C. MARTUCCI FUNERAL HOME, 123 S. 1st St., West Side, Connellsville, 724-628-9033, where a funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, with Father Gerry Juarez as celebrant, followed by full military rites conducted by members of VFW Post 21 and American Legion Posts 301 and 762. Interment will follow in National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville. In lieu of flowers, Ralph's family asks donations be made to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice. To sign the online guest registry, visit our website at http://www.martuccifuneralhome.com.