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Ralph Maher Obituary
08/11/1942 - 08/21/2024
Ralph John Maher (RJ), 82 passed away from natural causes on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at the San Rafeal KP Medical Center in Marin County. He was born in Bronx, NY to Edward & Gladys (Krauer) Maher. He graduated from St. Nicholas of Tolentine HS and attended Marymount University in Maryland. He moved to San Francisco in the late 60's. He was a restaurant entrepreneur for over 50 years who owned and operated Liver Pool Lil's, Brazenhead, Penny Farthing and others. He was awarded a San Francisco achievement day for all the people he employed and mentored for many years. He was known for his charitable works especially for veterans and the San Francisco police. Ralph was an active member of the Olympic Club and the Golden Gate Yacht Club. He was a Vietnam veteran and was awarded a purple heart. Ralph is survived by his sister Carol Holland, Doreen and her spouse Robert Spinella, Patricia and her spouse Glen Rauch, Barbara and her spouse Douglas Pruett and predeceased by his parents and his brother Edward who died in Vietnam in 1968. Ralph has eight nieces and one nephew and twenty grand nieces and nephews. A memorial and a celebration of life will be announced in the near future.
Any donations in Ralph's name should be sent to :
Tunnels 2 Towers Foundation
No Greater Sacrifice
Wounded Warriors
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Ralph Maher
Toby L Cohen, MD
October 3, 2025
I am not entirely sure how I ended up here at Ralph's memories and condolences but I am glad I did. I was a Liverpool Lil waitress for 6-7 yrs in the 1980s. I worked or Ralph during some of the most challenging times of my life. I was a college student at SFSU aspiring to go to medical school. Ralph hired me despite my relative little restaurant experience. He was not an "easy" boss per se, but I found that my work ethic and ability to perform efficiently seemed to put me in his good graces. He was beyond generous to his staff. It is impossible to imagine now, but he provided full medical insurance to the waitstaff and bartenders. It was Kaiser insurance and was a life saver for a poor college student. He generously offered unused Giants, A's or 49'r tickets to us. I once ran the waiter's race for Lil's up California Ave carrying a tray of drinks! I didn't win but Ralph was still proud of me and the fact that Lil's was represented. I wish I could have let him know that because of my employment with Lil's and sometimes Brazen Head or Penny Farthing I was able to get into medical school. I told an admissions counselor in an interview that my experience was multitasking: someone needs a fresh drink, another has a hot dish ready, another wants the bill just like in a hospital where one patient needs a CBC, another an X-ray and another has a family needing updating. I got into to med school, graduated and did my residency and fellowship at Stanford. As a native Californian and proud Palo Alto-an (pre Silicon Valley) I was very happy to return. All this was possible because Ralph supported me and ran a thriving business with an iron fist and a warm heart. I owe him more than words can say and short of telling him in person I am happy to be able to share this sentiment here. Thanks Ralph, RIP.
Gilbert Tunney
December 30, 2024
Hello, our names are Gilbert and Gilda Tunney. We worked at Liverpool rills from 1982 till 1987. Ours is a love story that started there. I was a cocktail waitress /hostess and loved my job there when I first moved to San Francisco. My husband Gilbert was a waiter. He came about 2 years later. We met there and went on our first date 4th of July 1985 in 1987 we got married. If it was not for Liverpool ills, we would not have met each other and spent 39 years of glorious life together. When we got married Ralph gifted us with six Waterford champagne glasses that we still have today. He was a wonderful employer. Yes he was tough but he taught us many life lessons in our jobs. The rest of our lives. We also opened a business we just finished after 22 years and learned many lessons from him on how to operate it. May he rest in peace and may anyone who reads this know we talk about him all the time and love the fact that we work there. It is an iconic San Francisco institution. The people we met there we still talk about today. Of all the things we did this was the best Because we met each other and got incredible experience.
Gilbert and Gilda Tunney
December 30, 2024
Our names are Gilbert and Gilda Tunney. We met 39 years ago working at Liverpool Lil's in 1985 . Ralph was our boss. We had a high regard for him. And we work there for 5 years. He was a wonderful employer we learned a lot from him through our life and have used a lot of his advice. We were proud to know him. If it was not for Liverpool lils we wouldn't have met And had the wonderful life we had together. When we got married, he gifted us six Waterford champagne glasses that we still have today. May God bless him and welcome him. Great man
Ira Kaye
September 15, 2024
My heartfelt condolences to Ralph's family. I used to be a partner in the Pierce street Annex, so had some interesting conversations with Ralph over the years. We had a mutual friend, Joe Flood, who was also close to Ralph. Spent many a night at Lil's with some great memories. May he rest in peace.
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Irene Quinn
September 5, 2024
My condolences to the entire Maher family! Ralph was a legend in San Francisco. Worked at Lil´s. Lots of fond memories. He was a tough but fair boss. He loved his Irish roots! Go raibh a anam ar dheis Dé
Rosemary Sullivan
August 27, 2024
Ralph was one of the first people I met when I moved to SF. At that time, he worked at Perry´s. Frequented his many establishments. Great memories of a wonderful guy with a big heart. May you rest in peace, Ralph!
Hank, Scottsdale, AZ
August 26, 2024
Ralph ran great bars and restaurants... Lifetime memories at a couple of them that I will never forget. Thank you Ralph; may you rest in peace.
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