Our class was notified that Ralph had been diagnosed with cancer and died on January 14, 2015. Our hearfelt condolences to his family and close freinds.
I am sorry to hear about his passing for he must have family that will miss him. I remember him in the halls and seeing his face brought back memories.
I'm so sorry to hear this. Ralph and I worked at Sawyer's Dancing School in High School and later were roommates in our freshman year at college. Ralph was elected freshman class treasurer. A great talent and person.
My good buddy Ralph is gone and I never got a chance to see him for so many years.He will be missed by so many. He left us on my day of birth Jan 14th, He will always be remembered even more so and I know someday God willing I hope we meet up at The Big Reunion. Take care my Brother and God speed.
Dave and I are deeply saddened by Ralph's passing. We had recently connected with Ralph and were looking forward to getting together with him, but he said nothing of his illness. Ralph said he remembered playing with Dave's little red wagon when they were three years old, and I met Ralph in High School. He was a great friend to both of us. He was so talented, so loving and gentle. A truly wonderful person. We shall miss him greatly as we know so many others will. God bless you, Ralph. We love you.
I am very sorry to learn of Ralph’s death. We were in scouts together. Ralph’s expertise at identifying different types of trees earned him the nick-name, “The Sassafras King”!
Sharing a few thoughts on my dear friend Ralph Menke.
Ralph and I were just great friends …since grade school (Edgemont)… and we remained so through our high school years and beyond. We last spoke just prior to the 50th class reunion in early October, 2013. He said to me that he wouldn't be attending and made no mention of his illness. And the news of his passing saddened me deeply. I did submit this at his memorial… but failed to post it on our class website… so, as they say, better late than never.
I knew his family quite well…his Mom and Dad and sisters Margot and Sue. Margot was just a year older and I would see her around quite often. His oldest sister Sue was older by a few years and though I didn’t know her quite as well she was always very friendly. She saw great success as a model and was cast in major ads. Perhaps her most famous one was that of being the “Salem Girl” . She was featured in all the major magazines and in full page newspaper ads as well as billboards along the highway… back in the day when cigarette ads were still out there.
Ralph was truly a multi-talent… a gifted piano player and clarinetist as well as having very fine vocal abilities. His sense of humor was just off the charts...and it brings a smile to my face just thinking about him. He was just a fun personality and did amazing impressions of a variety of celebs of the day. Among the most memorable of these was his spectacular imitation of Louis Armstrong…just fun stuff.
We shared a lot of musical moments together ... jam sessions at the Burgi family home and at the piano at my house in studying different styles of playing. Amazingly, he had the facility to actually imitate the world renown pianist, Oscar Peterson. We also sang together in Madrigal Choir and often walked or rode to school together for those early morning rehearsals which went on throughout the school year. My family also knew him so well. As we never locked our doors back in those days…Ralph was one of those people that was just always welcome to let himself in.
So…please pardon my rambling on here reminiscing, as I'm sure we all have our great memories of our youth in lovely old Montclair. It’s just my take on it, but as I look back…how fortunate we all were to have been growing up at that time in history and in a town like Montclair, which while offering many life experiences and opportunities, presented itself as a beautifully balanced setting for what I look back upon as being an idyllic childhood.
Thank you for your recollections of Ralph. They really filled out a bigger picture of what a great classmate he was and his musical talent. Weren’t you also in a band with Eric Blackstead who later produced the live performances for the Woodstock album? He also pasted away in 2015.
I was shock to hear that my school buddy Ralph passed away not to mention on my birthday, wow. Ralph lived just down the street from me and we would at times meet up on our way to school. He was a very gentle soul. He will be missed but is now in a place that we will all meet up again God willing. I would like to extend my condolences to his family and may the Lord bless and keep you strong in this time of loss.
Emily Wilson (Stanton)
I am sorry to hear about his passing for he must have family that will miss him. I remember him in the halls and seeing his face brought back memories.
Doug Fritts
Ralph will be missed by all. He was a wonderful person and pianst.
Robert Callard
I'm so sorry to hear this. Ralph and I worked at Sawyer's Dancing School in High School and later were roommates in our freshman year at college. Ralph was elected freshman class treasurer. A great talent and person.
Frank Wright
My good buddy Ralph is gone and I never got a chance to see him for so many years.He will be missed by so many. He left us on my day of birth Jan 14th, He will always be remembered even more so and I know someday God willing I hope we meet up at The Big Reunion. Take care my Brother and God speed.
Barbara Vosburgh (Linnard)
Dave and I are deeply saddened by Ralph's passing. We had recently connected with Ralph and were looking forward to getting together with him, but he said nothing of his illness. Ralph said he remembered playing with Dave's little red wagon when they were three years old, and I met Ralph in High School. He was a great friend to both of us. He was so talented, so loving and gentle. A truly wonderful person. We shall miss him greatly as we know so many others will. God bless you, Ralph. We love you.
Bill Blumberg
I am very sorry to learn of Ralph’s death. We were in scouts together. Ralph’s expertise at identifying different types of trees earned him the nick-name, “The Sassafras King”!
Vincent Russo
Ralph was a great guy and a wonderful entertainer. My condonlences to his family.
Joseph (Heyward) Moss
Sharing a few thoughts on my dear friend Ralph Menke.
Ralph and I were just great friends …since grade school (Edgemont)… and we remained so through our high school years and beyond. We last spoke just prior to the 50th class reunion in early October, 2013. He said to me that he wouldn't be attending and made no mention of his illness. And the news of his passing saddened me deeply. I did submit this at his memorial… but failed to post it on our class website… so, as they say, better late than never.
I knew his family quite well…his Mom and Dad and sisters Margot and Sue. Margot was just a year older and I would see her around quite often. His oldest sister Sue was older by a few years and though I didn’t know her quite as well she was always very friendly. She saw great success as a model and was cast in major ads. Perhaps her most famous one was that of being the “Salem Girl” . She was featured in all the major magazines and in full page newspaper ads as well as billboards along the highway… back in the day when cigarette ads were still out there.
Ralph was truly a multi-talent… a gifted piano player and clarinetist as well as having very fine vocal abilities. His sense of humor was just off the charts...and it brings a smile to my face just thinking about him. He was just a fun personality and did amazing impressions of a variety of celebs of the day. Among the most memorable of these was his spectacular imitation of Louis Armstrong…just fun stuff.
We shared a lot of musical moments together ... jam sessions at the Burgi family home and at the piano at my house in studying different styles of playing. Amazingly, he had the facility to actually imitate the world renown pianist, Oscar Peterson. We also sang together in Madrigal Choir and often walked or rode to school together for those early morning rehearsals which went on throughout the school year. My family also knew him so well. As we never locked our doors back in those days…Ralph was one of those people that was just always welcome to let himself in.
So…please pardon my rambling on here reminiscing, as I'm sure we all have our great memories of our youth in lovely old Montclair. It’s just my take on it, but as I look back…how fortunate we all were to have been growing up at that time in history and in a town like Montclair, which while offering many life experiences and opportunities, presented itself as a beautifully balanced setting for what I look back upon as being an idyllic childhood.
Warm regards to all my classmates,
Joe (aka: Heyward)
David Cannon
Joe,
Thank you for your recollections of Ralph. They really filled out a bigger picture of what a great classmate he was and his musical talent. Weren’t you also in a band with Eric Blackstead who later produced the live performances for the Woodstock album? He also pasted away in 2015.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/triumph-tragedy-woodstock-album-producer-eric-blackstead-849575/amp/
I hope you are well and still making music,
Dave Cannon
Frank Wright
I was shock to hear that my school buddy Ralph passed away not to mention on my birthday, wow. Ralph lived just down the street from me and we would at times meet up on our way to school. He was a very gentle soul. He will be missed but is now in a place that we will all meet up again God willing. I would like to extend my condolences to his family and may the Lord bless and keep you strong in this time of loss.
Frank Wright