Ralph W. Olsen

BREWSTER - Ralph William Olsen, 69 died quietly at home October 31, 2013 after an extended illness. He was the husband of devoted wife Judy and son of the late William and Norma Olsen of Pittsfield, Ma.

Ralph enlisted in the Navy Reserve while still in high school and completed advanced electronics training at Great Lakes, Ill. He proudly served a 2-year tour of duty in Morocco, attached to the Communications Station for the 6th Fleet, and completed his service as an E-5 Petty Officer Second Class. He spent his entire professional career with Southern New England Telephone Company originally based in Stamford, Ct. and later relocating to Danbury, Ct.

After a diligent search Ralph found, and was reunited with Judy, his high school sweetheart. They were married in New Milford Ct. April 25, 1987. They shared a love of regional travel in their Motorcoach and local travel on their Harley-Davidson. He retired from SNET in 1995 and in 2001 moved with Judy to their permanent retirement home in Brewster, Ma.

He is survived by his daughter Debbie and her husband Dave Boyer of Falls Village, Ct; a brother Dick and his wife Janice of Asheville, NC and Atlanta, Ga. and; his niece Kristen Ouderkirk of Marietta, Ga.

In addition to family he leaves life-long friends scattered from NY to California and close personal friends from the Motorcoach and Harley Davidson communities.

Ralph had the deepest respect and admiration for those men and women who bravely served their country. In their honor the family has requested that Ralph be remembered with memorials to Heroes in Transition (herosintransition.org) with funds earmarked to provide service dogs to Cape Cod veterans.