Francis R. Ragaglia, 81 of Vero Beach, Florida formerly of Westerly, Rhode Island, died on Sunday March 30^th at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank, NJ.

Things to remember about my Dad

He answered to Babe, Francis, Frank, Franny, Rags, Dad and Grandpa.  The first and last being his favorites. His love of family and friends was evident whether he was talking about his three grandchildren, Emma’s new born son, Steve and Carol’s family, Kevin and Pam’s grandchildren, or Brenda and Mike’s two boys.  His closeness with cousins Paul (Carol), John, Donna (John O) and others meant that this “only child” always had siblings.

He spent more time in the sun without hair than with it so he always wore a ball cap. In later years being mostly emblazoned with Morgan Lewis or Westerly Yacht Club Recording Secretary – both of which he was equally proud – his son’s law firm and the other a source of life-long friends.

Dad could fix anything. Well almost anything. There are a few things around my house he left unfinished. I will give him a pass – Luckily, he taught his grandchildren to be equally handy.

His love of cars started and ended with Ford, first a white Ford Galaxy 500 XL Convertible, last an eye-catching red Mustang Convertible with many Daytona car show trips with his friends Mike or Billy in the middle. He shared his love of detailing his cars with his daughter-in-law and could name all of the best unlimited car washes in the states of RI, FL and more recently NJ. I think he loved me more than his Mustang but lawyers don’t ask questions they don’t know the answers to.

Navigating the ocean skipped a generation with him and his grandsons (Andrew and Nicholas) more interested in piloting the boat while I am more the chill passenger. From the Dad’s Toy, his former Silverton Motor yacht, to the Carmartina, the current Ragaglia water ride, he was always putzing around on them – his word not mine.

Holidays would find him cooking with his granddaughter Sydney – him cleaning shrimp and hot peppers, her making stuffing and mushrooms – then hanging Christmas decorations from trees and bushes for hours in the cold with his daughter-in-law, Vanessa. Spending Thanksgiving in the ICU was a little better this year with his friend Deb sneaking in her homemade dinner.

I know this is his time but I have the pen here.  Listing him as an Eagles and Phillies fan would be a lie but I can’t bring myself to mention his Giants or Yankees. Sorry Dad.

This extraordinary life was built around his love of a certain key punch operator, Elaine (or Babe as he called her), who created this life and family over 60 years together.  What started out with building their first house brick by brick (literally), then boat by boat, culminated in taking the last steps in retirement, in inseparable unison, gathering with friends and family, Dewars in their glasses, to toast victories and provide support for the challenging times.

A note to my sister Tina, let Dad snack as much as he wants while Mom is not there – I am keeping her here with me for as long as I can. I am confident there is no scale in heaven but hopefully, for Dad, there is a Chick-fil-A … he claims to never have been (Andrew and I fell for that once.)

For those of you craving the more traditional obituary here are the facts:

Francis was a Computer Programmer for over 50 years, retiring from Union Savings Bank in Connecticut. He served his country for six years in the National Guard.

He was pre-deceased by his daughter, Tina Ash. Tinkerbell as he called her and spoiled her – and I helped.

Surviving is his wife of 58 years, Elaine Ragaglia; their son, Joseph Ragaglia, Philadelphia; their daughter-in-law, Vanessa Ragaglia, Chadds Ford, Pa; 3 grandchildren, Nicholas, Greenbrook NJ, Sydney, Chadds Ford, and Andrew, Philadelphia.

A memorial cruise will be held later time.

To share a favorite memory or send a message of condolence, please visit Francis’s page of tributes at www.holmdelfuneralhome.com.