Ralph Nic Nicastro

Ralph Nicastro was born in Brooklyn, New York on July 29, 1944 to Nunzio Nicastro and Catherine Cinque Nicastro. They moved to up-state NY and he grew up in small village of Frankfort and graduated from Frankfort High School. He sang with a band at state fairs and won blue ribbons for singing “Doo-Wop” songs and his favorite song was forever “In the Still of The Night”. Then he was drafted for Viet Nam. He served with the famous Black Horse Cavalry unit same as his father did in WWI .....he was blown up Dec 15, 1968 as part of the infamous TET offensive and was evacuated to Osako, Japan for recovery then sent back to Nam to serve out his tour. He left army as SGT E 5 rank.

Ralph was always admired and pursued by several girls, to the point that his parents would need new and unlisted phone numbers. Ralph was engaged a couple of times, but never that one special girl that he would take that walk down the aisle with. He then returned to work at the Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company where he met Sonja.... he pursued her for many months, but she would not go out with him. Sonja thought he was only an “Italian lover boy”. Ralph was accustomed to always getting what he wanted and girls were no obstacle or exception, but, he finally met the woman who said “NO” and gave him a real challenge.....He bored easily until he met the woman who was never known as “boring” or simple . They both shared a love for music and dancing and it was his great dancing ability

that finally made Sonja accept Ralphie’s request for a date. But it was always fiery as Sonja was not raised to say “Yes Sir” or bow to demands. Ralph and Sonja were finally married in 1971 and years later with two kids in tow they headed west from New York. Their family finally settled in Mesa, AZ where many new adventures began for the young family.

He started working for the US Postal Service in 1979 and held many different positions, with the last one being Dock Expeditor.

There was never a dull moment in the Nicastro Home. After a friend’s birthday party Ralphie and Sonja were on their way home. As they were driving down the road cars passing by waved to get his attention… “Your car is on fire!” Nic tried to dismiss the statement but soon realized that his car was in deed on fire. A little tipsy, he saved his wife, a half-eaten sheet cake and a bouquet of birthday balloons and together they walked the remaining few miles home. Oh what a night!

Ralph loved to have fun and spend time outdoors. Fishing was his favorite way to relax, or self-inflicted aggravation, depending on whether the fish were cooperating or not . Unforgettable was the time he went fishing off the beach in Gulf Shores Alabama and caught a baby shark!!! (no one went swimming after that).

Many times he misplaced things like tools, keys, etc so the question the family all got asked on a regular basis was "Where's My......?" which over time came to be an inside joke. But Ralph was always depended on by his family. He would get many calls from his family that they were in need to be rescued by the big Kahuna; thus the nickname "The Chief" came to be. Usually it was the women who had either locked themselves out or had car trouble. This happened quite often and so over time he acquired many new mechanical skills and eventually passed them on to his daughter Alissa. His son Patrick was already into cars so no worries there.

There are so many more memories that Ralph created with his family and friends to be cherished and remembered always. Our beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother and Friend will always be thought of and missed, but the cherished memories and the strength that he shared with us will help us to endure.

Obituary:

Ralph Nicastro passed away on March 30, 2013. He was born on July 29, 1944 in Brooklyn, NY, the son of Mr. Nunzio Nicastro and Catherine Cinque Nicastro .

He served in the US Army during the Vietnam war and was the recipient of the Purple Heart. Ralph was employed by the US Postal service for 34 years

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Patrick Nicastro, sister Concetta Nicastro, brother Costanzio Nicastro and sister in law Dorthea 'Joyce' Nicastro. He is survived by his wife Sonja , daughter Alissa Nicastro-Magallanez, son in law Manny Magallanez, and granddaughter Ashlee Nicastro-Magallanez . He also leaves behind brothers in law; Foster H. Burchett , and Lane Davis, sisters in law; Felecia Burchett , Karen Davis and Karla Smith, niece Katherine Nicastro, nephew Foster H. Burchett III and many other nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held on April, 19, 2013, 10:00 am, Melcher Mission Chapel, 6625 E. Main Street, Mesa, 85205. Military Honors Service will begin at 1:00 pm, April 19, National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, 85024

Contributions in lieu of flowers should be made to St. Judes Child Research, Patrick Nicastro memorial fund, 1-800-822-6344, Fax: 901-578-2805 Email: [email protected] 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Arrangements entrusted to Melcher Mission Chapel, www.melchermission.com.