Ralph J. Patrizi passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, surrounded by family at Christus Hospital - St. Elizabeth in Beaumont, nearly two months after his 90th birthday.
Ralph was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, on October 18, 1925. He was the son of Josephine Granucci and Giovanni Patrizi, who had immigrated to the United States in 1905 from San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy. Giovanni worked as a foreman at the steel factory in Chicago Heights to provide for his wife and nine children. Ralph spent his childhood there going to school and working at his older brother’s store. He spotted a young girl sweeping the store front of her grandparent’s grocery store which was the beginning of a long and awkward courtship that involved attention seeking wisecracks, spitballs, and an ever so thoughtful personal delivery of high school homework assignments when Mildred Napoli fell ill for an extended period of time.
Ralph was drafted by the United States Marine Corps in December of 1943, and was shipped to Guam to fight the Japanese who refused to surrender at that time. Later, Ralph, as a member of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 21st Marines, 3rd Division participated in action at Iwo Jima where he miraculously survived a direct hit by mortar round in the foxhole he shared with four fellow marines. Subsequent to his recovery from the blast concussion, Ralph was promoted to Corporal and began training his own squad for the invasion of Kusu, Japan, which thankfully never took place as the war came to an end.
Ralph returned home from the war, married Mildred and began working for Hayes Construction as a foreman laying asphalt. Some fifteen years later, Ralph moved his family down to Beaumont to work with two of his brothers in the restaurant business. Ralph’s infectious personality became a hallmark of the Patrizi restaurant business over the next thirty years. Ralph retired at the age of 70 and spent the last twenty years spending time with family and friends. One of Ralph’s favorite pastimes was dancing with his bride of sixty years. He and Mildred could be spotted dancing and socializing at McKenzie’s Pub in Beaumont’s west end several nights per week up to and including his 90th birthday celebration this past October.
Ralph is survived by his wife, Mildred Napoli Patrizi, of Beaumont; son, Jeff Patrizi and his wife, Carroll, of Houston; daughters, Pat Patrizi Merritt and her husband, Lynn, of Anaheim Hills, California; Kathy Patrizi Wilbanks, of Marble Falls; and Gayle Patrizi Plaia, of Beaumont; daughter-in-law, Sherry Patrizi and her husband, Chris; brother, Eugene Patrizi, of Schaumburg, Illinois; grandchildren and their spouses, Michael and Robin Plaia; James Plaia and Hope Hilz; Allison and Ian Campbell; Houston and Kate Johnson; Alice Carroll Johnson; Mary Pat Patrizi; Nicholas Patrizi; Amanda Patrizi; Alexandra Patrizi; Ashlynn Patrizi; John David Wilbanks and Kristyn Wilbanks; great-grandchildren, Sophia Plaia, Carmine Plaia, Nora Campbell and Merritt Johnson; sister-in-law, Gloria Patrizi, of Austin; and a host dearly loved nieces and nephews.
Ralph is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Louis Patrizi, Americo Patrizi, Joseph Patrizi, Victor Patrizi, and Alfred Patrizi; sisters Clementine Patrizi and Mary Patrizi; and son David Patrizi.
A Rosary for Mr. Patrizi will be recited at 4:00 p.m., with a gathering of his family and friends to follow until 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 18, 2015, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 19, 2015, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Some Other Place, P.O. Box 843, Beaumont, Texas 77704; Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675; Salvation Army, 2350 I-10 East, Beaumont, Texas 77703; or to a charity of one’s choice.
