Ralph Michaels John William Marzulli

Ralph Michaels (John Marzulli) Born September 25, 1924 in Philadelphia, PA~Death March 15, 2021

Ralph served in WW2 and after his time in the U.S. Army he became a world traveler visiting Europe and Asia several times. He always had friends in every port! He later attended the Dramatic Workshop in New York

City under the direction of Erwin Piscator who wanted him to perform in Guys and Dolls, but Ralph had other plans. He went on to perform all across the United States and even the Caribbean through MCA Artists. In 1954 Ralph was hired by Bob Gill to perform at the British Colonial in the Bahamas. Gill took him to South Florida where Ralph would make a home for himself. Ralph and his first partner, Duke Stewart, opened the Rouges Roost at the Jolly Rodger Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. They went on to perform at the Yankee Clipper until 1976 when Duke retired and Ralph then teamed up with Sharkey Nadaoka. While performing 29 years at the Yankee Clipper, Ralph always got his audience to laugh and sing along while doing what he loved night after night. Wherever Ralph went he always had his accordion in tow -- performing every chance he got. To say Ralph knew a lot of people would be an understatement. He met popes, saints, owners of pasta companies, jam and jelly companies, businessmen and the list goes on. His abundance of friends is countless. In the ‘70s Ralph moonlighted as a sales rep for Chateau Du Tricot dress line and also for Arena Sportswear. He didn’t have to work another job, but he just wanted to meet and be around people. And he did both jobs effortlessly. He with his friends Sebastian and Stan sold pineapples for kicks (actually giving them away for free most of the time) at his buddy Preston Henn’s Swap Shop.

One time Ralph was introduced to Henn’s friend Willie Nelson as “the greatest entertainer on the earth” to which Ralph sheepishly replied, “C’mon Preston, Willie is the greatest,“to which Willie Nelson replied, “Ralph if Preston says you are the greatest then you are the greatest!” Ralph was a devout Catholic and had an audience with several popes as well as with Saint Padre Pio. He was Ralph’s patron saint and always had Ralph’s back throughout his life. Ralph was preceded in death by his father Michael and mother Louise, brothers Salvatore (Elizabeth), Ralph (Mary) and his sister Aurora (Frank), as well as his niece Lucy (Tommy) amd nephew Johnny (Barbara). He is survived by his nieces and nephews Mark, Jeffrey(Megan) and Dana(Kevin) Papalia, Michael (Donna), Vincent (Kathy/ Marybeth), Salvatore (Margie), Angela, Louise (Nick), Michael, Clorinda (Lenny), Joseph, Johnny, Gina and Justine. Ralph is also survived by his only child Nancy Luisa. If you were lucky enough to catch his act or have one of his two albums or receive a box of mangos or oranges then you will always have a memory of what a generous superstar he was. When George

Carlin knocks on your dressing room door and tells you you’re funny, then you are funny, and Ralph was funny! In keeping with Broward County Regulations, social distancing and facial covers or masks are required to be worn by all guests.