Ralph, or as some of you may know him as Ralph-Bong, Bong, and known affectionately as Bing Bing by his grandchildren was born on December 20, 1958 in the Malued district of Dagupan, Pangasinan, Philippines, surrendered to the comforting embrace of our Lord on December 28, 2023. His life was a testament to sacrifice and unwavering dedication to ensuring that his family had every opportunity to experience the best things life had to offer.
He was the beloved son of the late Roman N. Navarrete and Josefa C. Navarrete. Bong is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Josephine “Joy” Lugtu Navarrete, his daughter, Joan Rachel N. Sigua and her husband James Sigua, as well as their children, Eloise Joan and Evan Gerard. He is also survived by his son Ralph “Ralphy” Roy Navarrete and his wife Mary Ann C. Navarrete, along with their children, Roman John and Maverick Jaxson. Bong is further survived by his sister, Fe Joy Ouano, and her family, and his brother, Jim, and family.
Bong received a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Pangasinan in the Philippines and further studied at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. He spent his professional career in the architecture world, working for companies such as Westinghouse Electric Corp., Nabisco, Lehman Brothers, Met Life, Morgan Stanley, Princeton University, and most recently, Bank of New York Mellon.
Outside of work, Bong was an avid landscaper and handyman, fixing anything and everything around the house. He also loved working on cars, refusing to take things to the dealer or mechanic unless absolutely necessary. In his younger days, Bong was a menace on the basketball court who bodied bigger guys on the court and was tenacious in the paint (yes, even as a short guy). He was also a stylish man who knew how to put together an outfit and taught his kids how to dress to the nines. He loved a good deal and was a frequent flier at Marshall’s, looking for the best bargains on name-brand goods.
A viewing in memory of Bong will take place on Thursday, January 11, from 5 - 7 PM, with a prayer service commencing at 5:30 PM, at Smith & Williams Funeral Home (4889 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462). A funeral mass to celebrate Bong’s life will be held on Friday, January 12 at 11 AM at St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Church (3314 Sandra Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23464). All are welcome to attend a luncheon reception at Yukai Buffet at 1 PM (1952 Laskin Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454).
