Harold Charles Ravenna

Hal was born on Christmas day, 1934 in Bedford, Indiana to mother, Margaret Opie Ravenna and Julius Giuseppe Ravenna. He was born during the Great Depression and, once commented that when he was born, his father, Julius, "didn't have 5c to send a letter home to his family in Vermont to tell them he had a new child." During the Great Depression, it was hard to find steady work and Julius and Margaret struggled to make ends meet. Hal was unusually slim when he was young, and his family gave him the nickname, "Gandhi," after Mahatma Gandhi. He never outgrew that nickname even though he would eventually fill out his body. Julius and Margaret managed to open a small bar in Bedford called the City Cafe, where Hal would work on occasion. Julius ran the City Cafe for more than 25 years.

Like many Catholic Italian families of the time, Julius and Margaret encouraged their children to consider a religious vocation. Hal often spoke about having a strong catholic faith and so attended St. Meinrad’s Catholic Seminary in his early teens. He stayed for approximately 3 years before accepting although he was a devout Catholic, the priesthood was not his calling. He finished high school back at Bedford High School in 1952.

After graduation, Hal worked in a men’s clothing shop in Bedford for a year before he "volunteered to be drafted” in the US army. He spent the next two years in an artillery unit stationed in Dachau Germany; the infamous concentration camp that the US Army liberated at the end of WWII. He was honourably discharged with the rank of Corporal. His experience in the army and in Germany were formative times for the young man from a small town in Indiana and would lead Hal to a life of travelling the world.

Hal took advantage of the GI Bill, attending University of Indiana, in Bloomington, Indiana studying business administration. Commuting each day from his parents’ home in Bedford, he graduated in three years.

Upon graduation from IU, he joined Ford Motor Company, at a plant in Louisville, Kentucky. He would eventually spend his entire career with Ford or affiliated companies. While working in Kentucky, he tells the story of meeting a young woman, Martha Lee Chatfield from Pleasant View, Kentucky at a bar. He asked her to dance. Martha and Hal would marry in 1961 and would remain an inseparable couple for 41 years until Martha's premature death in 2006.

Hal and Martha moved to Detroit, and then to Livonia, Michigan. In 1962, their first-born son, Joseph Thomas was born, followed by John Andrew in 1963 and William Harold in 1964. As if life were not full enough, Hal came home from work one day, and asked Martha whether she would like to move to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Martha was up for an adventure and her immediate response was "Sure. Where is Brazil?".

They moved to Brazil in 1966 with their three boys. In 1967, while living in Brazil, another son, Peter Fredrick was born. Around this same time, they discovered that their first-born Joseph was diagnosed with autism, which at the time was a very misunderstood condition. So began Hal and Martha's lifelong advocacy for the developmentally disabled.

In 1969 Hal and Martha moved back to Livonia. In 1972, their next adventure would lead them to Brentwood, Essex, UK where Harold was the Controller of Ford's Basildon Tractor plant. In England, his family thrived. His boys attended local schools, learned to play soccer (football) and integrated into the local community. The family had a chance to travel Europe and Hal would also take his family back to Dachau, Germany so his boys could understand and appreciate the sacrifice that people made to stop the evil of the Holocaust.

In 1975 Hal, Martha and the boys returned to Livonia, Michigan where they would remain until 1989. Working for Ford Motor Company, Hal always admired good engineers and while the boys were in high school, he said in very clear terms, "You will be an engineer and you will go to a Michigan State University." ....and they did.

In 1977, the Ravenna family started a new project. They built a cottage in Northern Michigan on Mullet Lake. Hal was many things but a carpenter he was not. Nevertheless, he taught himself the basics. The house in Northern Michigan, "the cottage" has since been added onto and is still the family gathering point and would remain the place Hal's favourite place in the world.

Hal and Martha's last international living experience would begin 1989 where they spent three years living in Antwerp, Belgium, this time without the four boys who were grown by now. Returning to the US in 1992, Hal would finish off his career at Ford New Holland Tractor Company. Upon retirement, they would split time between the cottage and Livonia where they could be near Joe.

Hal and Martha had a very active retirement. They continued to travel, and life was made fuller with the birth of grandchildren. Upon Martha's death in 2006, Hal struggled. Nevertheless, he remained a devoted and caring father to Joe and as it turned out Joe would become the purpose for Hal's existence. Hal would eventually adapt to life after Martha and enjoyed spending time with his friend, Kathy Tomasek.

In the last few years Hal had various health issues that would at times bring him perilously close to death, but he always seemed to bounce back. He was too stubborn to die until the COVID19 crisis of 2020.

Hal is survived by two brothers, James Ravenna and Paul Ravenna; a sister Marilou Ravenna-Elchynski; sons Joseph, John and wife Judith, William and wife Marta, and Peter; Grandchildren Nicholas and wife Mary, Margaret and husband Jonathan, Harry, Anna and Sofia; Great Grand Children Sadie and Ethan; and countless friends.

Hal will be remembered for his friendly personality, quirky wit, keen intellect, devotion, generosity, and openness. He was a great example for his children and will be dearly missed. His funeral will be held at St. Colette’s Parish on July 25, 2020.