Ralph Joseph Matysiak, Member of American Legion Post 211

Ralph Joseph Matysiak, 88, of Avon, passed away on  March 16, 2013, at St. John Medical Center in Westlake.He was born Oct. 5, 1924 in Lorain.

Ralph grew up in Brooklyn, New York and Lorain, but lived in Lorain for most of his life until moving to Avon in 1988, where he resided for 21 years. He spent the last four years at West Bay Nursing Facility in Westlake, where he made many friends that he considered extended family.

He graduated from Lorain High School in 1942 and was drafted into the Army in 1943, where he attended the ASTP program at the University of Pennsylvania, he then was assigned to the 3093 Refrigeration Company, Butcher Platoon. After attending language school in Monterey, California, he was assigned as a cook for a company of 100 in Inchio, South Korea that was preparing for the invasion of Japan. Ralph was discharged from the American Theater Asiatic-Pacific Theater in 1946. He achieved the rank of sergeant and received the Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

He married Jean Scarborough in 1947 in Lorain. He graduated from Fenn College (Cleveland State) in 1957, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Marketing. In 1960, he earned an MBA from Michigan State University.
Ralph worked for Fisher Foods, Fazio's and Riser Foods for 45 years. He was recognized by the supermarket industry for his innovative marketing and distribution of frozen food and dairy products. He was proud to be a member of a team of successful innovators at Fazio's Supermarkets, whose marketing models are standard in today's supermarket industry.

He served as President of the Northern Ohio Frozen Food Association and received the Certificate of recognition from the Cleveland Association of Grocery Manufacturers in 1984.

Ralph and Jean were active members of the VFW Post 9871 North Ridgeville and the Avon Lake American Legion 211. In 2011, Ralph was selected and honored to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington DC as a guest on the Honor Flight.

Ralph was preceded in death by Jean in 2009 and his parents, Andrew and Emilia (Jarzembowski) Matysiak.

He is survived by son, Lawrence of Westlake, daughters, Leslie (Tim) Browning of North Ridgeville, Susan (David) Lukachko of Amherst, grandchildren, Bradley Browning of North Ridgeville, Molly Lukachko of Amherst, and three sisters.
Visitations will be on Thursday from 5 p.m. -8 p.m. at Bogner Family Funeral Home, 36625 Center Ridge Rd., North Ridgeville. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 1 PM in the funeral home. Rev. Tim Gareau will officiate.
Private internment will be held at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Rittman, OH.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cleveland Food Bank, 15500 S. Waterloo Rd., Cleveland 44110 or Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, 2110 W. 110th St., Cleveland 44102.