Ralph A. Morelli

Ralph A. Morelli died peacefully in his home, surrounded by his loving family in Cary, NC on July 14, 2023. He was 75 years old. Ralph was born in Waterbury, CT on August 6, 1947, the son of Ralph C. and Anne (Accetura) Morelli. Ralph is survived by his wife of 46 years, Choong Lan How; daughters, Meisha Mandal and Alicia Morelli; sons-in-law, Sudeep Mandal and Rayn Sakaguchi; grandchildren, Kirin & Siona Mandal and Talyn & Jolen Sakaguchi; sisters and their husbands, Diane & Tom McBroom and Karen Morelli & John Maxwell; nieces, Kacey McBroom, Margaret McIlvaine, and Madelyn Kotosky; as well as many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and nieces and nephews on the How side of the family. Ralph was an enthusiast of life, an optimist, a person who found humor in any situation, and someone who inspired many others. He exuded a playful sense of ease, often instilling calmness into many situations. Many found a friend in him, appreciating his sincerity, curiosity, and engaging conversation. Ralph graduated from Torrington High School in 1965, where he was co-captain of the baseball team in his senior year. He earned his bachelor’s degree from UConn. That was followed by a two-year stint in the U.S. Army. He spent a year “bumming around” and surfing in Europe, after which he earned Ph.D. and M.S. degrees from the University of Hawaii. Ralph taught for more than 30 years at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, where he helped create the Computer Science (CS) department. He loved collaborating with his colleagues, oftentimes on their daily runs around Goodwin Park. Together with them, he published two books, a textbook of the Java programming language, and a collection of papers on artificial intelligence, as well as several scientific articles. Ralph worked with colleagues from other colleges to create the Humanitarian Free and Open Source Software (HFOSS) project, designed to get undergraduates to create software to help nonprofit and humanitarian organizations. Trinity students helped support relief efforts in Haiti, Chengdu, China, and other places. A strong advocate for CS education, he collaborated with local high schools and other colleges to help create an Advanced Placement CS course that is used in Connecticut and other states. Running with friends and competing in road races was one of Ralph’s passions. He completed dozens of marathons and half marathons. His favorite race was the Thanksgiving day Manchester Road Race, which he completed more than 30 times with his family and friends. He was a big fan of the Boston Red Sox and the UConn men’s and women’s basketball teams. He was happy to have lived to see them win so many championships. Ralph was an avid crossword solver, an interest which he often turned into a social activity. He also found great joy in playing the piano, alone or during parties where others could sing along. Throughout his life Ralph was devoted to his family, often leading them into adventures. He took pleasure in leading his grandchildren on expeditions of all sorts, such as hiking Haleakala as near toddlers and teaching them to bike, then encouraging them to complete an “epic” 15-mile trek of the American Tobacco Trail. He spearheaded Bellows camping trips and even got some aunties and uncles to run marathons! He also acted as a steady upholder of family traditions. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all the loved ones who have reached out and kept Ralph in their hearts. A celebration of life will be announced at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) in Ralph’s memory. Donations can be made through the website at https://www.als.net/donate/ or via mail to 480 Arsenal Street, Suite 201, Watertown, MA 02472.

Ralph A. Morelli

August 6, 1947 - July 14, 2023