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In Memory

Ralph Morrison

From Nancy Herendeen Bonoli:


It is with heavy heart that I notify you of the passing of our beloved classmate and friend Ralph "Rick" Morrison. His obituary follows: Obituary for Ralph W. 'Rick' Morrison Staatsburg – Ralph W. Morrison, affectionately known as ‘Rick’, a longtime Staatsburg resident, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at the Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital of Westchester Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. Born in Waltham, Massachusetts on July 15, 1952, he was the son of the late Ralph W. Morrison Sr. and Margaret Eleanor Godfrey Morrison. Rick proudly served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. He worked in the Grounds and Maintenance Dept. of the Hyde Park Central School District for almost ten years and was a part-time bartender at the Red Rooster in Staatsburg. Mr. Morrison was a member of the Staatsburg Fire Department (now part of the Roosevelt Fire District) for over twenty years. During his tenure, he worked his way through the ranks and served as Chief from 2006 to 2009. In his younger years, he played in several softball leagues in Poughkeepsie and Staatsburg. Rick married the love of his life, the former Linda E. Clarke, at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Staatsburg. Mrs. Morrison survives at home. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his two step-sons, Randy Schad and wife, Donna, of Staatsburg, and Adam Schad of Reno, Nevada; grandchildren, Shonna Bozkaya and partner, Shane Kip, of Pleasant Valley, Loralie Doyle and husband, William, of Staatsburg, TySheena Jweinat of Staatsburg, Tyree Schad and fiancée, Rhonda Jamal, of Staatsburg, and Ryan and Liam Schad, both of Reno; two great-grandchildren, Kyla Bozkaya and Madelyn Kip; two sisters, Martha Jaffe and husband, Don, and Linda Moore, all of Massachusetts; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by four brothers-in-law, Larry, Ron (Marian), Richard (Donna), and Kevin (Kathy) Clarke and their families. Calling hours will be from 2 to 5 pm, Sunday, March 17th at Sweet’s Funeral Home, Rte. 9, Hyde Park. The Staatsburg / Roosevelt Fire District will conduct services at 4 pm during the visitation. Cremation and burial of his ashes in the family plot in Massachusetts will take place at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, Rick’s family respectfully requests memorial donations to the Roosevelt Fire Department, PO Box 394, Hyde Park, NY 12538. (www.rooseveltfiredistrict.com) To send an online condolence or for directions, please visit www.sweetsfuneralhome.com. To plant a tree in memory of Ralph W. 'Rick' Morrison, please visit our Tribute Store. 

 
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11/18/19 12:08 PM #1    

Joel Johnson

So sorry to hear about Ralph....we were in a fraternal organization during high school and as I remember his nickname was "Flea". Have no idea how or why he got that nickname, although he was ( like me ! ) on the smaller side physically. But he always had a smile on his face ! 


11/18/19 03:46 PM #2    

Nancy Herendeen (Bonoli)

Hello Joel,  I became good friends with Rick the summer of '72 along with other Demolay and Rainbow members after a chance meeting with Martha Keys in December of '71.  Rich Ludwig, Brian Cameron and my sister Cathy Herendeen Lemay attended the interment of his ashes at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Mattapan.  His nickname Flea came up in converstation and Rich thought it was because he was a small guy back in their youth but I had heard that while working at the newspaper office in Needham Square he would scale the walls, much like an insect. LOL.  As you can see in my photo of him on the walls of the summer home my family, then friends rented for many years on Little Sebago Lake, he continued to climb walls well into adulthood.  The other photos from Maine are some of my favorites.  The picture of the last beer has a very funny story that goes with it which includes a moonlight boatride of 4 individuals, myself included, that turned to skinny dipping and diving off of a private property raft and high diving platform I had coveted since my youth.  Diane Dinneen and my sister were horrifed and worried we would all drown.  The house was sold in the mid  90's so the annual gatherings stopped and visits were further apart than annually.  We all did get together at each others weddings and the weddings of children and an occasional dinner party at my home in Quincy.  

Rick had a heart attack within the last 10 years.  In march of this year he was at work and alone in his truck when people working in the area heard the constant beep of the back-up alarm so investigated.  His truck had rolled to a stop at a loading dock.  He never got the truck out of reverse and was found slumped over the wheel.  

One of his hobbies was photography and I was so humbled after the funeral luncheon when his sisters offered me some of his slide collection from the days prior to him moving to upstate New York.  I have scanned most of them and there are many but here are two of my favorites.  One is a self portrait and the other from a laundromat pit-stop while on a motorcycle trip with Jim Dolan.



 


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