Ralph E. Ruiz

Ralph E. Ruiz held many titles from Husband, Papa, Pappi, Boss, Brother, Sponsor, Uncle, friend and was proud to hold each one. He passed away October 28th surrounded in love by his family after battling a short bout with Cancer diagnosed in September of this year.

He was born in September 1950 and raised in San Francisco with his four siblings by his parents who migrated from Nicaragua. He spent his early years in the SF Mission District attending St. Peter’s grammar school and numerous SF High Schools after his parents passed during his teenage years. He would eventually graduate from El Camino High in South San Francisco. He was a naturally gifted learner and from childhood always wanted to learn more and understand how things worked. He developed a love of automobiles through his brother Danny, a love which he carried through his entire life. He was forever helping family and friends with their automotive projects and had a special bond doing so with his nephew, Ben Vigil. Another constant in his life was his lifelong friend and brother Carl Wilson, as they navigated from adolescence through high school, jobs, marriage all the way to raising their children, grandchildren and enjoying retirement.

Ralph was happily married to Rita Ruiz for 46 years and together they raised three children. Ralph ensured his family would remember all of life’s experiences as he diligently captured pictures of their moments together. He started creating scrapbooks each year for Rita starting in 2005. Ralph loved to travel the country and world with Rita starting with cruises when they were young to cruising into their retirement and across the country in their motorhome. Ralph loved his three children, Adela, Victor, and Christina and tried to be involved in as much of their lives as he could from school, learning to drive, coaching sports, advice giving, and honing their sarcasm to eventually watching them grow up and build lives and families of their own. He loved welcoming people into Rita and his home every chance they could, even formally growing the family through a son-in-law Roger King and daughter-in-law Vanessa Ruiz. Some of his happiest moments were being surrounded by his granddaughters Violet, Vivien and Hazel telling jokes, making paper hats, teaching new tricks, and getting big hugs.

He had a 30-plus year career in Sheet Metal working on high rises and low rises around the SF Bay Area. He loved his work and would drive around showing his kids and, later, his grandkids all the buildings he had a hand in creating, St. Mary’s Cathedral, The Federal Reserve, and The SFMOMA being some of his favorites. Ralph would be celebrating his 30th year of sobriety this upcoming year and truly valued the time he spent giving back to his community with his support, mentoring and friendship.

After retiring at the young age of 52 he started doing even more of what he enjoyed: starting up new hobbies like traveling across the USA, working through Rita’s long “Honey Do” list and spending quality time with his granddaughters. When he had time to do nothing at all he would enjoy it most while sitting by the ocean with Rita and listening to the waves.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents: Daniel and Adela Ruiz, and two brothers Daniel and Victor Ruiz. He is survived by his wife Rita; children Adela (Roger), Victor (Vanessa) and Christina; granddaughters Violet, Vivien and Hazel; siblings Elena Shroyer and Eleanor (Jose) Leyva; and numerous nephews, nieces and loving family members.

At visitation will be held at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory on Monday, November 7th from 5:00PM till 7:30pm with a Rosary at 7:30PM.

A Mass will Be held at Saint James Catholic Church on Tuesday November 8th at 11:00AM followed by a Graveside service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

To pay tribute to Ralph and his love of style we request those that can wear Hawaiian shirt/attire to the funeral.

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Visitation

Monday, November 07, 2022

5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Parent-Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory

Vigil Service

Monday, November 07, 2022

7:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Parent-Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory

Funeral Mass

Tuesday, November 08, 2022

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

St. James Catholic Church

Graveside Service

Tuesday, November 08, 2022

12:30 PM

Calvary Catholic Cemetery-Petaluma