After graduating magna cum laude in 1934, Ralph worked for Time Inc. before serving in World War II, after which he was awarded a Purple Heart (two clusters) and a Silver Star.
Prior to coming to work at Princeton in 1956, Ralph taught English at Kent (Conn.) School, where he had prepped and served as coxswain of the 1930 crew that went to Henley. While at Princeton he was awarded the Alumni Council’s Service to Princeton Award in 1984, and when he retired after 21 years in Annual Giving, he was honored with the PURR Fund to which hundreds of alumni contributed. It became an Annual Giving endowment and will honor him in perpetuity.
Ralph enjoyed hosting gatherings at the “Barn” after home football games and devoted himself to his work as class secretary, a post he wished to continue in for life, and did.
In 1942, Ralph married Adeline “Addie” Van Vlack, who died in 1996. He is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Ritchie and Susan Ritchie Clark; his son, John ’70; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.