Remembering Ralph Diaz
By Larry J. Rodarte, February 7, 2022
“We love you all.” These were the words from Ralph Diaz during the 2nd Diaz family reunion in 1990 at Spaulding Township Hall, speaking for the Steven and Esther Diaz family during our family roll call. I remembered that moment because it felt so sincere, and it was quintessentially Ralph, expressing the love he had for his Diaz family.
Ralph passed away February 1, 2022, after an illness with troubled lungs. He was 77. He loved his Sharon; he loved his kids, his grandkids, and his siblings. Ralph loved everyone, and for some reason I can’t help but remember his hard laughter and smile at every Diaz family reunion.
He came from that generation in the 40s when an abundance of Diaz grandkids were born from mostly Uncle Steve, Tia Cruz, Tia Carmen, and Tia Dora’s broods. I loved to watch how Ralph would greet his first cousins, Tony Stricker and Tony Medel, who were close to his age. They had that certain brotherly bond. He had a different bond with my mom Anne, and cousins Paul and Chelo, and it was rooted in respect and love. Each of them had a certain way of telling a story—and Ralph, too, had this Diaz trait.
There are a few old Diaz family pictures from when Ralph and his brother Steve were with their cousins on the Stricker Farm or at Grandpa and Grandma’s home on 29th. He absolutely loved his primos, and I knew this from his stories.
There’s that picture of Ralph and Steve with Grandma and Grandpa Senobio and little Susie, where the boys have their arms around their grandparents. I was always intrigued, because it shows how deeply they loved them, and Grandpa Senobio must have been so proud because he even has a lil’ smile. It wouldn’t be long before they both joined the US Navy. Ralph would serve 10 years of active duty as well as 12 years of reserve duty during the Vietnam era.
One of the great love affairs in our Diaz clan stems from the marriage of Ralph and Sharon, who were together for more than 60 years. They were high school sweethearts who showed us a great example of marriage and devotion. She was always by his side and remained there till the very end. It was always Ralph and Sharon—never just Ralph, never just Sharon.
Oh, and how he loved his girls, Deanna, Anjanette, and Sherri Lynn, and of course his son Steven. When Anjanette (GiGi) give birth to her first son, Marcus, I was working in the same hospital and was drawing blood from her thin veins in between excruciating bouts of pain, and afterwards Ralph was so thankful that I was able to take care of his GiGi.
There are so many memories we will all treasure with Ralph— So much quality family time. Once when I came down to New Haven to make tamales, Ralph got so excited when I prepped the chile ancho with comino, garlic, and salt; his eyes lit up when he tasted it, and he said, “That’s Mexican!”
While I was in Croatia this past summer, Susie texted to tell me how Ralph was doing. She said he told his sister Sylvia that he would like to make tamales with me one more time. Was it the aromas, the taste of a tamal, or the chile ancho that he was craving?
I think he yearned for that Diaz family spirit. In late November, I was able to pick up Eleanor and Tia Della with tamales in tow, and we stopped to pick up Tia Connie Diaz on our way to Utica. It was a beautiful family gathering where Ralph got to see his tias one last time. We shared pictures, and memories, hugs, and love. We surrounded Ralph in a heartfelt moment and laid hands on him, praying for a smooth transition between all our tears. Tia Della asked him if he was ready to see the Lord. He said, “Yes, I’m ready,” and he said to me, “Son, when I see your mom and dad, I’m giving them a big hug. And your Grandpa Joe, too.” He knew we were all connected, and very blessed to build our family bonds during this short time on Earth that will last into eternity.
Our condolences to Steve, Art, Kathy, Sylvia, and Susie, and of course Sharon and their kids and grandkids. We love you, primo—give a hug to all the family. Descanse en Paz.
Ralph passed away February 1, 2022, after an illness with troubled lungs. He was 77. He loved his Sharon; he loved his kids, his grandkids, and his siblings. Ralph loved everyone, and for some reason I can’t help but remember his hard laughter and smile at every Diaz family reunion.
He came from that generation in the 40s when an abundance of Diaz grandkids were born from mostly Uncle Steve, Tia Cruz, Tia Carmen, and Tia Dora’s broods. I loved to watch how Ralph would greet his first cousins, Tony Stricker and Tony Medel, who were close to his age. They had that certain brotherly bond. He had a different bond with my mom Anne, and cousins Paul and Chelo, and it was rooted in respect and love. Each of them had a certain way of telling a story—and Ralph, too, had this Diaz trait.
There are a few old Diaz family pictures from when Ralph and his brother Steve were with their cousins on the Stricker Farm or at Grandpa and Grandma’s home on 29th. He absolutely loved his primos, and I knew this from his stories.
There’s that picture of Ralph and Steve with Grandma and Grandpa Senobio and little Susie, where the boys have their arms around their grandparents. I was always intrigued, because it shows how deeply they loved them, and Grandpa Senobio must have been so proud because he even has a lil’ smile. It wouldn’t be long before they both joined the US Navy. Ralph would serve 10 years of active duty as well as 12 years of reserve duty during the Vietnam era.
One of the great love affairs in our Diaz clan stems from the marriage of Ralph and Sharon, who were together for more than 60 years. They were high school sweethearts who showed us a great example of marriage and devotion. She was always by his side and remained there till the very end. It was always Ralph and Sharon—never just Ralph, never just Sharon.
Oh, and how he loved his girls, Deanna, Anjanette, and Sherri Lynn, and of course his son Steven. When Anjanette (GiGi) give birth to her first son, Marcus, I was working in the same hospital and was drawing blood from her thin veins in between excruciating bouts of pain, and afterwards Ralph was so thankful that I was able to take care of his GiGi.
There are so many memories we will all treasure with Ralph— So much quality family time. Once when I came down to New Haven to make tamales, Ralph got so excited when I prepped the chile ancho with comino, garlic, and salt; his eyes lit up when he tasted it, and he said, “That’s Mexican!”
While I was in Croatia this past summer, Susie texted to tell me how Ralph was doing. She said he told his sister Sylvia that he would like to make tamales with me one more time. Was it the aromas, the taste of a tamal, or the chile ancho that he was craving?
I think he yearned for that Diaz family spirit. In late November, I was able to pick up Eleanor and Tia Della with tamales in tow, and we stopped to pick up Tia Connie Diaz on our way to Utica. It was a beautiful family gathering where Ralph got to see his tias one last time. We shared pictures, and memories, hugs, and love. We surrounded Ralph in a heartfelt moment and laid hands on him, praying for a smooth transition between all our tears. Tia Della asked him if he was ready to see the Lord. He said, “Yes, I’m ready,” and he said to me, “Son, when I see your mom and dad, I’m giving them a big hug. And your Grandpa Joe, too.” He knew we were all connected, and very blessed to build our family bonds during this short time on Earth that will last into eternity.
Our condolences to Steve, Art, Kathy, Sylvia, and Susie, and of course Sharon and their kids and grandkids. We love you, primo—give a hug to all the family. Descanse en Paz.
