Gloucester Alumni

GLOUCESTER — Ralph E. Martin, 66, husband of Florence E. (Parisi) Martin, of Gloucester, died on Saturday evening, April 19, 2008 at his home surrounded by his family.

Born in Gloucester on Dec. 12, 1941, son of the late Manuel and Mary (Curran) Martin.

Ralph was a graduate of Gloucester High School with the Class of 1961.

After high school, Ralph worked as a mechanic at several locations before he began his own business Ralph's Auto Repair, which he operated for 27 years. He took great pride in his honest, hard work and helping out his customers, often completing jobs on their cars at no charge.

After selling his business, Ralph had worked at the Cape Ann Medical Center and Modern Heat for eight years before retiring.

Foremost in his life, Ralph was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. He and Florence especially enjoyed the time they got to spend with their grandchildren and their vacations to Aruba with friends. He was content in living a simple life, spending Sundays having dinner with his family, days on his boat fishing and feeding the birds in his back yard. Ralph was a long time devoted communicant of St. Ann's Church and was always willing to help out with their activities.

He was a long-time member of the Moose Lodge and Knights of Columbus and loved to play cards with his family and friends.

In addition to his wife Florence, he is survived by his three sons, Ralph Martin Jr. and his wife Lisa, Anthony Martin, Michael Martin, all of Gloucester; grandchildren, Daniel John Martin, Thomas Raphael Martin, Jarrod Michael Martin and his mother Jill DiLiberti; his brothers, Robert Martin and wife Sandra of Gloucester, Paul Martin and wife Mary of St. Petersburg, Fla.; mother-in-law, Angie Parisi; brother-in-law, Phillip Parisi and wife Annmarie; sister-in-law, Annmarie Fitzgerald and husband John, all of Gloucester; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his father-in-law, Anthony "Papa" Parisi.