Ralph Sawyer Colby

Ralph Sawyer Colby passed away on September 10, 2021 at the age of 91 after a struggle with pneumonia. A thoughtful and private man, he was deeply devoted to his wife of 67 years, Edith. They loved to travel and spent many years exploring countries around the world. New Zealand was a particular favorite, together they savored the pure beauty of the land of the Kiwi many times.

Born in Whitefield, New Hampshire, he grew up with a great love of the White Mountains, hiking and canoeing through them whenever possible. Camping, climbing, and fishing were also favorite pastimes.

While attending Carnegie Mellon University, he met his best friend Bud, who would later introduce him to his sister, Edith. He also served a tour of active duty in the Naval Reserve. Trained as a naval aviator, he flew the P2V-3 Neptune for Patrol Squadron Eight out of Keflavik, Iceland, and once found himself stranded on an island at the North Pole, where he perfected his igloo-making skills, much to the later delight of his children.

He went on to become a respected mechanical engineer, working variously for Pratt & Whitney, Avco Corporation, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and ultimately International Business Machines. In 1968, he moved his family to California to explore the western U.S. Thereafter, he and his family could often be found zigzagging around the country, visiting relatives and exploring national parks. Ralph loved them all, from the grandeur of Yosemite Valley and Lake Tahoe to the quirky fun of the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Wanting to see more, he and Edith moved to the United Kingdom, where his job with IBM allowed him to explore Europe frequently. Zipping across the English Channel, Ralph became skilled in driving on both sides of the road, often doing both in the same day. Their travels took them around the world before they returned to the U.S. Once back, they settled into their mountaintop haven in Cool, California, where they gardened and built furniture until moving to Maryland to be nearer to family.

Ralph is survived by his beloved wife Edith, his daughter Chris Tiberi (Paul), and his son Dr. Eric Colby. His oldest daughter Sharon Chappell (John) preceded him in death. Ralph wanted no service or memorial. The family asks that no flowers be sent, rather that you simply remember him with a smile for his quiet voice and gentlemanly manner, except when he was delighting kids by playing “bear” and roaring down the hallway to the accompaniment of childish screams.