Final Salute

Ralph Dominic Sternadori, “Chick”, 97, died peacefully on October 27, 2022. Born in February of 1925 in Raritan to Joseph and Rachel Esola, he was the youngest of eight children. Ten days after his birth, his mother died from complications. Before her death, she entrusted her dear neighbors, Luigi and Theresa Sternadori, to raise her newborn son. The grace of God allowed them to welcome him into their home, and named him Ralph, after his late mother. Ralph knew the Sternadoris as his mother and father and was grateful for the love and religion they placed in his life. He was raised with the Sternadori’s two older children, Aldo and Rena as well as Luigi Sternadori’s brother and his three children, Yolanda, Rosie and Nick. The Sternadoris made certain that Ralph continued a loving relationship with his natural brothers and sisters. Ralph graduated from Somerville High School in 1943 after a distinguished athletic career. He held four varsity letters in baseball, football, basketball, and track with State and County recognition. Later in life, Mr. Sternadori was honored to be inducted into the Somerville High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1943 Ralph went on to proudly serve his country in the United States Navy, where he was a “Seabee” for three years in World War II. Stationed in Maui, the Philippines and Japan, he worked on airstrips. While in Maui in 1944, Ralph met Sargent John Basilone, a fellow Raritan native. John Basilone, a hero at Guadalcanal, had received the Medal of Honor. John Basilone died in the line of duty; Ralph felt that he was perhaps the last Raritan native to see John Basilone alive. During a thirty-day leave, Ralph married his high school sweetheart, Jeanne Barbara Clarkson. After his honorable discharge in 1946, Ralph was a minor league baseball player with the Pittsburg Pirates and went on to win the top position of catcher for the Oil City Oilers. At the end of the season, Ralph enrolled at Long Island University under the GI Bill where he graduated in 1950 and went on to get his masters at New York University. He took a position coaching after college at the Bordentown Correction Center before accepting a job at The Borough of Somerville Department of Parks and Recreation as Director. Ralph then went on to work as Clerk for the Borough before being promoted to the Clerk-Administrator. He retired on April 1, 2007, after dedicating fifty-four years to Somerville, and served ten different Mayors. He was given the honorary title of, “Mr. Somerville” and has had the athletic field at Vanderveer Elementary School and a street in Somerville named in his honor. During his life, golf became Ralph’s greatest and most successful sport. He won the Somerset County Championship, The New Jersey State Seniors Championship, and The Trenton District Senior Championship just to name a few of his over 60 wins at golf outings and tournaments. The love of the game followed him even into the later years of his life, where he could still nail a putt from his wheelchair. Mr. Sternadori was a parishioner of The Church of The Immaculate Conception in Somerville, and a devout Catholic. The love of God helped him through some of the darkest times in life. He was an honorary member of the Lincoln Hose Fire Department and founding supporter of the Fire Museum. He enjoyed dancing and loved all sports. Most of all, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who cherished the quality time spent with his family. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 43 years, Jeanne Sternadori in 1989, his dear son William Sternadori in 2021, and his cherished companion of 22 years, Loretta Abbruzze in 2014. Surviving are his loving children, Joyce Hill and husband Joe, Douglas and wife Jeannie, Richard and wife Li Zhu, and Thomas. As well as his adored grandchildren, Liz (Christian), Katherine(Matt), Kyle, Matt, Arianna(Aaron), Raphael, Shawn and Josh and great-grandchildren, Hilde, Jack, Sam, Ava and Mason, as well as many extended family members and dear Somerville community friends. Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 7:00PM on All Souls Day Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at Cusick Funeral Home, 80 Mountain Avenue, Somerville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00AM on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at The Church of The Immaculate Conception, 35 Mountain Avenue, Somerville. Interment will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery, Rt. 28 West, Bridgewater. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and/or The Church of The Immaculate Conception For directions and condolences, please visit www.CusickFuneralHome.com

Posted online on October 29, 2022