Ralph "Jack" Malerba

Jack leaves behind his loving wife of over 40 years, Marianne Malerba, and the family that was his greatest pride: his son Joseph and wife Jennifer, and their children Joseph, Gianna, Mackenzie, and Anthony; his son Andrew and wife Anna, and their children Ralph, Richard, Seth, and Millie; his daughter Alisha and husband Joshua Shelburn, and their children Josh, Lucas, and Jaden; and his son Gioacchino and wife Alyshia-Jane and their children Ezekiel, Philemon, Sophia, Nehemiah, and Abishai. He is also survived by his brothers Paul and Louie Malerba, and his sisters Rosemarie Pont, Patricia Malerba, and Joani Zotti.

Jack grew up on a farm, where he spent his youth working in the hot fields alongside his brothers, sisters, and cousins. It was there, under the open sky and the weight of honest labor, that he forged the incredible work ethic he would carry for the rest of his life — and pass down to every one of his children and grandchildren. He lived by simple truths that those who knew him could recite by heart: you don’t leave until the job is done, and fifteen minutes early was late — for everyone, that is, but his wife.

Jack was a master carpenter who spent many years building houses and so much more, shaping the world around him with his hands the same way he shaped the people around him with his heart. In time, he settled into what would become his favorite role: serving faithfully at Lakes Pond Baptist Church, where he poured himself into the life of his church family as a Music Leader, children’s church director, teacher, and the first to show up whenever a project needed doing. He was especially blessed to be a leader at City Wide Baptist Church where you could often find him making pots of spaghetti sauce and meatballs for anybody that came through the door.

To know Jack was to love him. He could light up any room he walked into with his quick wit and a smile that made you feel like you were the most important person in the world. And when he stopped to sing about Jesus, the whole room would grow quiet — not because anyone asked it to, but because you could hear in every note just how deeply he loved the Lord.

Jack will be incredibly missed by everyone whose life he touched. While we are heartbroken to see him go, we find comfort in knowing that he passed peacefully, and that the voice that moved so many of us here on earth is now lifted in the chorus of Heaven.

— ✦ —

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

— Matthew 25:21

Visitation will be held at Fulton-Theroux Funeral Service, 13 Lake Ave, Niantic, CT 06357, US, on March 11, 2026, from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

A Funeral Service will be held at Lakes Pond Baptist Church, 1144 Hartford Turnpike, Waterford, CT 06385, US, on March 12, 2026, at 11:00 am.