Ralph M Fasano

age 87, a long-time resident of Natick, died peacefully in his sleep on November 7, 2019, at his home.  Ralph was born September 19, 1932 in Bronx, New York, the son of Francesco and Addolorata (D’Adamo) Fasano.  Brother of Gennaro, Angelo, Michael, Giacomina, Francesca, Rosemary, and Archangela.

Ralph was born and grew up in the Little Italy section of the Bronx, New York.  He worked various jobs during his early teens, including delivering ice and vegetables with his father.  After his father passed away while he was young, Ralph continued to work hard to help support his mother and his seven siblings.  Ralph graduated high school and then attended City College of New York where he obtained his degree in mathematics and statistics.  After graduation, he was drafted into the Army.  The choices given to him by the Army were simple, he could either be sent to combat duty in Korea or he could be stationed at a small Army research facility in Natick, Massachusetts.  He chose Natick.  Little did he know what was in store for him.  At the Natick Labs, he met his future wife, Jackie, and his simple life was no longer the same.  Ralph and Jackie were married in 1958 and began their family together. This city-dwelling New Yorker was now living in what he thought was a rural outpost in the middle of nowhere.   In later years, he would tell us, “I should have taken my chances in Korea”.  After his commitment in the Army was over, he worked at Avco and Raytheon doing statistical analysis work.  He eventually took a job at Sylvania in Needham, MA where he worked for many years.  He progressed up the ranks at what became GTE Government Systems until his retirement.  He retired from GTE as the Executive Program Director for the Strategic Systems Division doing defense work for the U.S. Government where he was in charge of over 900 employees.  After taking early retirement, he spent time doing what he loved, which was renovating the two old houses he and Jackie owned, one in Natick and one in South Orleans on Cape Cod. 

He was very analytical in his thinking and had worked for most of his adult life on random number theory and its application to the stock market and recreational gambling.  He left many stacks of yellow graph paper with cryptic boxes filled with numbers and arrows.  He tried to explain his “system” to his children, grandchildren and daughters-in-law with various levels of success.  He was forever adding refinements to his approach and testing his theories in the casino or the stock market.  He described his hobby as an on-going challenge that kept his mind sharp.

Ralph and Jackie loved travelling together and took many trips across country where they would leisurely poke around wherever Jackie wanted to go.  In later years, they spent winters in San Diego where they really settled into the lifestyle.  Ralph was truly devoted to his family.  He was proud of his children and the fact he was able to send all of them to college.  He was Grampa to 12 wonderful grandchildren whom he loved very much.  He will be missed by all for his practicality, his problem solving, and his guidance on the importance of work and being productive.  His marriage to the free-spirited and zany Jackie was unique, strong and such a great example to all who knew them.  He leaves seven loving children, Frank of Burlingame, CA and Mary ChenTe, Greg and his wife Jennifer of Las Vegas, NV, Adam and his wife Cindy of Needham, MA, Vince of Trinity, FL, Carl and his wife Joanne of Franklin, MA, Justin and his wife Dianne of Lancaster, MA, and Phaedra and her husband Brian Murphy of Hermosa Beach, CA. Loving grandfather of 12 grandchildren, Anthony, Matteo, Randy, Kayla, Mia, Alexandra, Andrew, Jason, Sephra, Kyra, Julia, and Olivia. He is also survived by many loving nephews, nieces and friends.

Funeral service in the chapel at John Everett & Sons Funeral Home 4 Park Street NATICK COMMON Thursday, November 14th at 10:30am.  Relatives and Friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours Wednesday, November 13th from 4-7pm in the funeral home. Interment St. Patrick Cemetery Natick

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