- Date Of Birth: October 27, 1924
- Date Of Death: March 18, 2021
- State: Arizona
Raphael (Ralph) Andrew Simon, 96, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, formerly of Corning, NY, passed away on March 18, 2021, surrounded by love.
Ralph was born October 27, 1924 in Bridgeport, Connecticut to the late Andrew and Maria (Kubik) Simon, who as teenagers, emigrated from the Slovakia region of the Austria-Hungary empire. He is predeceased by his brother, Norbert.
In 1941, Ralph attended Carnegie Mellon University, but his schooling was interrupted in 1944 when he joined the US Navy and served two years during WWII. Ralph graduated from Carnegie Mellon with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1947.
In 1950, Ralph married Janet Marie Portmann. They moved to Corning, New York where Ralph began a 35 year long career with Corning Glass Works. Ralph received seven patents for his work contributions at Corning Glass Works, prior to retiring in 1983.
Janet and Ralph raised 6 children in Corning and were married 70 years, before Janet’s passing in 2020. He is survived by all his children: Richard (Priscilla), Robert (Susan Chaka), David (Lindsay), Steve (Beth), Paul (Carol) and Alyce (Tom), 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Ralph returned to school and earned a Master of Library Science Degree from New York State University in Geneseo, NY in 1971. He served as a library trustee for the Town of Corning for 13 years and was President of the Board for 11 years.
Ralph was an active member of All Saints Parish in Corning, where he served on the Parish Council, volunteered as a lector and as a member of the Televised Mass Production Committee.
In his spare time, Ralph tended his well-tilled vegetable garden from which he reaped vegetables of all ilk supplementing his family’s dinners through the long, cold winters, and providing blueberries and strawberries for many delicious pies.
