Birth date: Nov 29, 1944 Death date: Sep 29, 2025
Ralph Benjamin Turek, Jr., 80 years old, born on November 29, 1944, in Havre de Grace, MD, passed away on September 29, 2025, in Middleburg Heights, OH near his hometown of Strongsville, OH. Ralph grew up in North Versailles, PA, Read Obituary
So sad when Donna shared the information, we’ve been neighbors for years was a good guy so sorry to see you go.RIP RALPH
It is hard to believe this was one year ago. I am so thankful I convinced you to climb the 120-foot tower with me that day. Autumn is our favorite season. Watching fall foliage ripple across the trees, one of our favorite pass times. Only second to a wicked storm rolling in, with calls not to convince each other to take cover but to ensure we are not missing the spectacular show. Dad, you were a great man, mentor, father, and grandfather. Witnessing the dying process was hard. But I know this was your last lesson to teach. You will always be in my heart. Until we meet again. 9/29/25.
The world lost a great man yesterday. I lost the best Dad I ever could have had. Kind, caring, smart, funny, talented, creative, principled, honest, profound … he will always be my role model.
Married to my Mom for 58 years, they met at the ninth grade Valentine dance (on Friday the 13th - so 13 became their lucky number) and never looked back. Made for each other, two peas in a pod. My sisters and I are beyond lucky to have grown up in such a solid, loving home.
Husband, father, grandfather, brother, musician, composer, author, professor, poet, activist, with passions for skiing, tennis, and travel, he really lived his life well and with meaning. This past year of bad health took its toll, but as he said “I had 79 good years, I was bound to have a bad one.”
Over the past weeks we have recounted so many memories, from all of the ski trips, to our favorite family photo in Hawaii where the photographer snapped the photo just as the parrot snapped down on my mom’s arm and she screamed (she was startled but not injured - thus it became the funniest photo ever, with even funnier parts to the story that I won’t tell here.)
He embraced my Halloween birthdays and would get so into Halloween costuming and decor - a memorable Halloween had my dad in a pterodactyl costume with an enormous wingspan perched on the roof of our house. He even looked forward to our crazy Halloween parties later in life - to seeing all the creativity in the costumes and decor.
So many memories. From trips, to family time, to all of our pets, to talking about books and movies, to dinners out, to going to his gigs to see him play solo and with friends at wineries and Music Box, I’ll hold them in my heart forever. And I’ll miss you forever Dad.
