Ralph Frank Cassitto

Mr. Ralph Frank Cassitto passed away peacefully with his family by his side in the Jones and Cabacoy Veterans Care Center on January 27 th , 2026 in Virginia Beach, VA at the age of 94 just two weeks shy of reaching his 95 th birthday.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 71 years, Sonja L Cassitto of Chesapeake, VA; his four children, Ralph G Cassitto of Phoenix, AZ, Kirsten and Paul Hassett of St. Augustine, FL, Brenda and Luke Sickles Sr of Chesapeake, VA and Paul Cassitto of Saugerties, NY; sibling, Grace Friend of Elkton, MD; grandchildren Eric Anderson, Joseph Cassitto, Luke Sickles Jr, Alexandra Cassitto, Allison Waters, Samantha Waters; nieces and nephews and numerous great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents Julius and Sylvia Cassitto of Jackson Heights, NY, mother and father-in-law Erich and Sigrid Beudel of Pawling, NY, brother-in-law Edwin Friend of Elkton, MD, brother and sister-in-law Eric and Muriel Beudel of Sebastian, FL, and nephew Julius Friend of New Port Richey, FL.

Ralph was born on February 11 th , 1931 at The New York Infirmary for Women and Children in Manhattan, NY to Julius and Sylvia Cassitto. He took courses at Pratt Institute, NY while attending high school; He graduated from W.C. Bryant High School, NY in 1949. Ralph attended the School of Visual Arts, NY, City College, NY, School of Pipe Support Design, NY, Pace University, NY, and Tidewater Community College, VA. Even though he was a member of the Junior Blue Jackets of America in high school, a naval organization, upon graduation Ralph enlisted for active duty in the US Air Force 1949-1950 and then served in the US Air Force Reserves 1950-1956. He met his wife Sonja while both worked in the Empire State Building in NY and they married in 1954.

After the couple welcomed four children into their crowded Jackson Heights, NY home the family moved to East Meadow, LI. From there, Ralph moved them to Holmes, NY a hamlet of Pawling, NY. Ralph set about teaching them any and everything he felt they needed to survive that included: building homes, using every kind of tool under the sun, inventing to solve problems and recycle and reuse. He and wife, Sonja, moved to Virginia Beach, VA in 1985. Upon retirement they migrated to Chesapeake, VA where their daughter Brenda and son-in-law Luke lived. They returned to Beacon, NY for a short stent but came back to Chesapeake, VA in 2020. His children remember him as a kind, determined father who encouraged them to be independent. He instilled two things to his children as life lessons: you can fix everything yourself and that each individual must carry their own skis! In the fall Ralph's creative juices would be flowing to create the most elaborate extraordinary award winning costumes for kids and adults alike. Ralph's ingenuity, creativity and resourcefulness lives on in his children and grandchildren.

Ralph was an accomplished architectural draftsman with a focus on structure. He sometimes had jobs that took him away from his family for short periods of time (Dallas Forth Worth, TX and Virginia Beach, VA). This allowed his family members to travel and visit him. Ralph often helped family and friends with remodeling projects and by drawing out designs. He was known to try to fix everything that broke often having several projects in the works at the same time.

Ralph was a witty dedicated individual who loved outdoor sports, skiing, sailing, camping, scuba diving, hiking, fishing, and who was passionate about changing the world by educating everyone with all he learned reading regarding health and nutrition (like it or not). He was a Scout Leader for numerous years. He participated in the USA 200-year bicentennial celebrations, Pawling Ox Roast and marches in 1976. In his younger years was an active and dedicated member of the National Ski Patrol and often volunteered at Big Birch in Patterson, NY. He took trips with his family and wife (who was going to go with or without him).

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date. A burial service will be held in Pawling, NY to include both Ralph and Sonja's remains when they are joined together again.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Tunnel to Towers https://t2t.org OR

Wounded Warriors https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

The family would like to extend a sincere thanks to the caregivers and staff at Jones and Cabacoy Veterans Care Center for their wonderful care, dedication, and support and also many thanks to the BrightStar Home Care caregivers who supported Ralph so he could live the way he wanted, independently!