Ralph U. Saarinen

Ralph U. Saarinen, 88, of Shrewsbury, was given into God’s care on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the home of his granddaughter, while surrounded by loving family; to be reunited in Heaven with his son, Ralph U. Saarinen, Jr., his daughter, Cheryl E. Muir, his brother, Leonard B. Saarinen, and his sister, Alice E. Soderman.

He was born in Worcester, son of the late, Uuno R. and Alice E. (Kuchinski) Saarinen, and was raised in the “Bell Hill” section of the city. He celebrated life there as a teenager during the rock ‘n roll era of the 50’s, spending many evenings at the dances and “hops” at the Boys and Girls Clubs, where he met and fell in love with Elinor (Butler), and married in 1957 during his military service. He is survived by his loving wife Elinor and their surviving two children, Keri-Lyn (Saarinen) Montgomery of West Boylston, and Todd R. Saarinen of Brimfield; nine grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

Ralph attended Worcester Boys Trade High School before enlisting in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1955. He served during the Korean Conflict, mainly stationed in New Foundland and Labrador. He was a member of the American Legion, Post 201, the Italian American War Veterans, Post 3, and the 84th and 62nd Engineer Construction Battalions, Korea Association.

Following his discharge, Ralph apprenticed as a plasterer and was a former member and vice-president of Local 6 Bricklayers, Masons, and Plasterers International Union (BMPIU), now known as Allied Craftsmen. Later, during the ‘70’s, he was employed as a building inspector for the City of Worcester and retired in 1995 from the city’s Depart of Public Works, Engineering Division. During his tenure with the city, he oversaw many of the major construction projects in Central Massachusetts. He was a member of the Massachusetts State, County, and Municipal Employees Association.

Ralph dedicated the last nearly half century of his life to dealing in and increasing his knowledge of antiques, particularly fine old glass, that he displayed and marketed in shops from New Bedford and Cape Cod, to New Hampshire and Maine. In the 1970’s he was among the founders of the former New Bedford Glass Museum.

Over the years, Ralph immensely enjoyed the richness, the flavor, the sights, the sounds, the smells, and the camaraderie of Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street, becoming a member and trustee of the East Side Improvement Club. A curmudgeon of Finnish descent, he was a booming fellow, a big gentle bear, and a man who knew that for better or worse, for richer, for poorer, he was blessed by a family and oldest of friends who loved him dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date.

Please visit www.mercadantefuneral.com for more information and an online register for messages and condolence.