Ralph Oscar Scott

It is with a bittersweet calmness that the family announces the passing of Ralph Oscar Scott, age 97, of Wayne, NJ.

Ralph was born and raised in Paterson, NJ, the only child to Oscar and Adelaide Scott.  He was a family boy of strong mind and body through those tough Depression years.  

In 1945, at the age of seventeen and a student at Paterson’s Central High School, Ralph made the courageous decision to join the U.S. Navy, where he served, trained and readied for battle, from 1945 to 1946.  To this day, the family believes that the enemy heard “Ralph Scott is in” and promptly surrendered.  

Ralph, a vigorous man of strength and dignity returned to Paterson to complete his education. He became the starting tight end with the Varsity High School Football Team.  He also loved boxing.  He earned his degree.

As it turns out, it might not all have been about earning a high school diploma.  It was at Central that Ralph met the young woman who would become the love of his life.  Ralph and Noemi Galfione exchanged vows on October 25, 1947.  

A worker, Ralph found employment quickly in the newspaper industry.  He worked as a Stereotyper.  A union man, he worked for The Wall Street Journal, The Daily News, and the New York Times.  While at the Daily News, Ralph skillfully worked his way to the corporate position of Production Manager.  Respected by both corporate types and union men, Ralph served as a Union Negotiator for the Daily News while a member of the Stereotyper’s Union.  Ralph was known to work patiently and calmly 24 hours plus to fix problems, whether it was a huge machine that broke down or the resolution of corporate/labor issues.  

Ralph’s career in the newspaper industry spanned nearly fifty-two years until his retirement, in 1999.  

Back to the newlyweds.  Ralph and Amy settled into Noemi’s parents’ house in Paterson.  There, Ralph and Noemi and family would welcome the births of Gregory, Karen, and Nina.  

Always moving forward, Ralph and Noemi built their first home, brick-by-brick, up on a beautiful hill in Totowa, NJ.  Later on during this time, alas, their son Gregory would die suddenly and tragically at the age of 18.  The family prevailed, later to welcome their fourth child, Kristen.  

The family remained in their hand-built house on the hill in Totowa for the next sixty years before Ralph and Amy moved in 2019 to a different residence, in Wayne, NJ.  

All his life, Ralph was an exceptional athlete.  He loved racket ball, squash, golf, and especially tennis.  (Not one of his three sons-in-law ever beat Ralph at racquetball.)  

Earlier, Ralph was an avid dirt bike rider.  He belonged to Cycle Alley Riders, a New Jersey Motorcycle Club.  Later, Ralph taught himself and then his entire family how to ski.  Ralph embraced challenges and the satisfaction of meeting them.  

Ralph’s greatest and growing passion in life was for his family.  These past years, nothing meant more to Ralph than spending time with his children and grandchildren and his great grandchild.  

Ralph and Noemi cherished an amazing seventy-seven years of loyal and loving marriage together.  When Noemi recently asked Ralph, “Do you know how long we’ve been married?”  Ralph answered, “Not long enough.”

Ralph touched the lives of everyone around him with his strength, love, loyalty, and life-learned wisdom.  

Ralph is survived by his wife, Noemi Scott (nee Galfione) of Wayne; three daughters Karen Boates and her husband Reid of Pittstown, NJ;  Nina Kramer and her husband Philip of Chatham, NJ;  Kristen Pisa and her husband Joseph of Franklin Lakes, NJ;  his five grandchildren Joseph Boates, Alexander Boates, Jonathan Kramer, Jessica Kramer, and Gracyn Pisa;  his great grandchild Michael Boates.  Ralph was predeceased by his son Gregory Scott in 1966.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in Ralph’s name are asked to consider The Salvation Army  or Oasis 59 Mill St., Paterson, NJ 07501