Ralph was a volunteer fireman and member of the volunteer emergency squad for the Oxford Volunteer Fire Department of Oxford‚ NY. He joined at the age of 18. He was always there as a firefighter or a member of the emergency squad when there was a need. It was during an Oxford Fire Department training exercise that Ralph had an accident with a fire truck and was left a paraplegic. Even after his accident‚ Ralph enjoyed going to the firehouse and helping with Bingo.

Ralph was a graduate of Oxford Academy and Central School class of 1975. At the time of the accident he was employed by Simmonds Precision as a machine operator. After his accident he became Justice of the Peace for the Town and Village of Oxford.

Ralph was always a very independent person and a great lover of the outdoors‚ using his four-wheeler to go hunting after the accident.

Ralph always had a ready smile and a word of greeting for everyone.