Ralph Edward Teitelbaum

On February 20, 2024, the world lost the most amazing man, Ralph Edward Teitelbaum was called home. We like to think all in heaven have been laughing and smiling since.

Ralph, originally from Long Island, born, July 11, 1952, raised his children in the state of Connecticut. After his children went to college, Ralph moved to California where he met his beloved wife, Carrie. Together, they moved to Texas where they eventually both retired. Ralph spent most of his career in management. His favorite part of his previous jobs was attending trade shows with former co-workers/friends. They also left with stories to tell.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Carrie Teitelbaum. Their love was pure, authentic and will be everlasting. Ralph and Carrie did everything together. They especially loved to travel together and relax at home sharing their morning coffee outside on their patio. They love to run local errands together, check out new spots and yard work. They laughed their days away.

Ralph is survived by his son Dean Teitelbaum his wife Eileen Teitelbaum and daughter Jodi Milardo and her husband Timothy Milardo. His children were his entire world. Even though he didn’t live near them in their adult years, he visited often and spoke to them daily. His love and care for them cannot be measured. He was so proud that his children gave him 5 beautiful and multi-talented grandchildren. Declan, Nolan, Molly, Hudson and Blake were his pride and joy. He loved watching them play sports and always checked on them academically. He was so proud of their gentle, kind, talented souls. He loved sharing stories of them to his dear friends and family. He tried to take full credit for his grandchildren’s amazing attributes.
Ralph is survived by his four stepdaughters: Bridgette, Augustine, Esther, and Connie along with 12 grandchildren. Ralph was very close and connected to them. He was very much looking forward to attending the wedding of his grandson Anthony and soon to be wife Isela scheduled for this upcoming Fall.

His grandchildren have so many fond memories of their Papa, they especially appreciated his silly sense of humor.

Ralph loved to collect outdoor happy hour signs. Most of them included sayings about having a cocktail, happy hour, a fire, and patio related… He probably had over 50 of them. They often times were topic of conversation while entertaining. During his last days he gifted one to Augustine,but misplaced it. He perseverated on its location for days until it was found and in her hands. That’s the kind of person Ralph was, he wanted to make others were happy even if it meant racking his brain all day and night.

Ralph loved traveling, watching sports, all holidays (especially decorating for them), hosting parties but most of all his prized past time was lighting a fire on his patio, playing the music loud (he even took requests from neighbors) with a drink in his hand and his wife and other loved ones by his side. He was social. Everyone was a friend. His heart was as immense as the state of Texas (only made sense that he lived there). He was the most thoughtful person and would help anyone who needed it. He was a wealth of knowledge and loved to share that with others. He was an informal comedian, a joke for every situation, he would talk to anyone, he loved BIG. If you did not know Ralph, it was surely your loss.

If Ralph wasn’t enjoying a drink outside by his solo stove listening to music, he was policing his front yard. After moving into their home, Ralph noticed some kids would walk on their front lawn after school let out. Ralph was not going to let this happen on his watch so he would station himself outside after the final bell rang and would direct kids off the lawn and tell them where they were allowed to walk. Carrie had to remind him often, “he was not the lawn police”. He even wrote a letter to school administration looking for their support encouraging the children to not walk on his lawn. This was just one of many things that would laugh about. The marriage included tons and tons of laughter.

Ralph will be missed so much by all his loved ones and there are a lot. However, he will always be topic of conversation when friends and family gather because as we all continue to say, “there are so many stories to tell”. May his memory live forever in our hearts and through our laughter. He is irreplaceable.

Thank you to all who loved him, laughed with him, had a drink with him, listened to music with him. May you think of him next time you hear a good tune, see a beautiful sunset or hang up Christmas lights. We know we will be.

There will not be a funeral or calling hours, the family will be having a celebration of life to honor Ralph’s beautiful soul at a later date.