Obituary of Ralph J. Padavano

Ralph J. Padavano Ralph J. Padavano, a 53 year resident of Pine Bush, died May 22,2007. He was 83. The son of the late Dominic Padavano and the late Antoinette Castro he was born in Brooklyn on August 2, 1923. Ralph was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Survivors include his wife, Florence M. Padavano, at home; his son, Ronald and wife, Elvira Scotto-Padavano of Goshen, N.Y.; his daughter, Carol A. Rauscher and husband, William of Syracuse, N.Y.; his second son, James S. and wife, Susan of Sedona, Ariz.; and his second daughter, Denise Padavano of Peoria, Ariz. Survivors also include his grandchildren, Melissa and husband, Stephen Kaloz of Goshen, N.Y.; Tasha and husband, Scott Manganelli of Goshen, N.Y.; Jaime and husband, Tory Hansen of Phoenix, Ariz.; Nathan Rauscher and his wife, Maggie of Syracuse, N.Y.; Jonathan Rauscher of Syracuse N.Y., Sarah Rauscher of Syracuse, N.Y.; Tony Padavano of Phoenix, Ariz.; and Julianna Padavano of Phoenix, Ariz. Also, his five great-grandchildren, Isabella Kaloz, Ava Kaloz, Lorenzo Manganelli, Marchello Manganelli, and Riley Hansen. Ralph was a combat veteran of World War II. He received two Purple Hearts, the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for battle wounds sustained in the Western European Theater. After WWII, he helped the U.S. Government develop a new prototype artificial arm, since his disability stemmed from losing his right arm in France in 1943. Upon his discharge, he attended and graduated the Bulova School of Watch making. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post 5492, life member of the G. Paul Bettinger Post 1308 American Legion, a former member of the Knights of Columbus in Pine Bush, and a retired machinist, from the Citgo Cable Corp. (formerly Chester Cable Corp.) of Chester, N.Y. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 25, 2007 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the William M. Gagan Funeral Home, 1525 Burlingham Rd., Pine Bush, N.Y. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, May 26, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at the Church of the Infant Saviour, Rte 302, Pine Bush, N.Y. with Fr. Kevin Gallagher officiating. Burial will be in the Orange County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Goshen N.Y., with Military Honors. For info and directions please visit www.wmgaganfuneralhome.com