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Ralph Louis DePonte, 87, born on March 1, 1931, in New Haven, died peacefully on Nov. 23 at his home in Killingworth.

Ralph is survived by his beloved wife Carol Burdick DePonte of 62 years. They were married at Sacred Heart Church in Groton on Sept. 29, 1956. He is also survived by his three children, Laura DePonte of Guilford, Ralph (Nancy) DePonte of North Branford, and Karen (James) Mullaly of Killingworth; his grandchildren Amanda and David Murray; and his sisters Trofemena “Mamie” DePonte, Mary (Richard) Johnson, Philomena “Philly” Esposito, and Catherine (Louis) Ruggerio. He was predeceased by his parents Frank and Catherine (San Marco) DePonte, sister Sandella “Sandy” Cipriano, and brothers Dominic and Anthony “Chubby” (Sandy) DePonte.

He was a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy and attended Arnold College of Milford and New Haven Teachers College. He was a social worker at Lee High School, where he was admired by many students over the years. He and his wife also owned Wooster Street Package Store for 13 years.

Ralph loved to travel, especially with his two grandchildren on countless trips to Disney World and cruising with friends and family. In later years, you could find him in his second living room at Mohegan Sun race book, where he’d tell you he’d been beat at the wire.

A celebration of his life was held on Dec. 7 at St. Therese’s Church in Branford. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. In the words of Frank Sinatra, “regrets, [he] had a few, but then again too few to mention.” He did it “his way!”