Ralph Reed

1931 - 2021

Ralph was born in San Francisco in 1931 and died peacefully at home with his family on the evening of June 16, 2021.

While growing up in the City, Ralph enjoyed the independence of roaming Golden Gate Park, fishing off San Franscisco’s wharfs and beaches, riding his bike throughout the city whether for adventure or work delivering papers. During the great depression, he raised rabbits to help support his family and always had jobs to support himself. One of his best memories was catching steelhead in the creeks in Fairfax where he lived briefly before moving back to San Francisco.

Ralph attended Star of the Sea Elementary and Sacred Heart High School. At age 15 when his mother died, his father had even greater responsibility in supporting the five children. At age 19 Ralph enlisted in the Navy and served almost four years during the Korean War, being discharged early in order to attend San Francisco State University on the G.I. Bill.

Ralph met Arlene at a dance in San Francisco in 1961 and he was smitten. They enjoyed almost 60 years of a loving marriage. Ralph was self-reliant, self-taught, and not afraid of taking risks, qualities he taught to his children, Michael, Matthew, and Laura. His hard work, luck, and good judgement served him well and allowed him to support his family and provide many opportunities for his children and grandchildren. His six grandchildren enjoyed Ralph’s words of wisdom including his favorite - “If you can’t be good, don’t get caught.”

Ralph liked to say with a smile that he was loved by dogs and children, but in reality he was loved and treasured by his friends and family for his compassion, integrity, independent thinking, adventure, dedication to those he loved, and sense of humor.