Ralph Wayne Patterson
October 16, 1944 - March 19, 2021
Ralph Wayne Patterson, a resident of the Bay Area and San Diego since the Seventies, died March 19 in his new home state of North Carolina. Leslie, his wife of fifty-five years, and daughters Rebecca and Samantha were at his side. He died from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. Ralph was born October 16, 1944, in Miami Beach Florida, near a Navy Base where his father was stationed prior to serving as chaplain on the USS Santee during World War II. After the war, his family returned to their home in Oklahoma, where he grew up. In 1962, he enrolled in the School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, where he also met his beloved. They were married in 1966. Awarded a fellowship to graduate school, Ralph went on to earn a PhD. in Electrical Engineering in 1972. He joined Westinghouse Research Labs in Pittsburgh, PA, thereafter, where he focused on magnetic bubble technology. Their two daughters were born in Pittsburgh. Ralph’s storied career centered on advancing cutting-edge technologies. He spent sixteen years at Hewlett-Packard, ultimately running the company’s printer division during the introduction of inkjet technologies. He held various executive positions at Read-Rite and KLA-Tencor before turning to the world of startups. After a brief tenure with Technology Ventures Corporation, Ralph founded Strategia, Inc., where he specialized in guiding technology startups to develop strategies for obtaining funding, growing their markets, and acquiring new technologies. Always curious about how things work and fascinated with the nature of space and phenomena in the world around him, Ralph enriched his family’s relationship with science and discovery. His enthusiasm for history and learning was also infectious. Telling jokes and hearty laughter were hallmarks of Ralph’s nature, charming both family and friends. Ralph is survived by his wife, two daughters, six grandchildren and his brother Dale. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Alzheimer’s Research Foundation.
Ralph Wayne Patterson, a resident of the Bay Area and San Diego since the Seventies, died March 19 in his new home state of North Carolina. Leslie, his wife of fifty-five years, and daughters Rebecca and Samantha were at his side. He died from... View Obituary & Service Information