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On Jan. 3, Ralph A. Santora, Jr., 63, of North Haven passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. Ralph was a captain for the New Haven Fire Department, retiring after completing 26 years.

He was the loving husband of 44 years to Mary Ann Candido Santora and cherished father of Jennifer Forslund, deputy fire marshal, NHFD (Christopher Forslund NHFD); Jessica Santora (Kendall Fisher); and Jeana Santora. He was the mentor and grandfather to Ajane Santora-Fyne (E.J. Levenberry), Brianna Forslund, Elijah Ellis, Ty Ellis, Laniyah McCrea, and Chawn Santora and the loving brother to Susan Landisio, Michelle Abbagnaro (Anthony), and Denise Blanchard (Kenneth). He was a devoted uncle to Anna Lynn Monroe (Matt), Vincent Landisio (Erin), Alexandria Abbagnaro, and Isabella and Gabriella Blanchard and great-uncle “Wally Pop” to Emma and Ethan Monroe.

Ralph was born in Augusta, Georgia on July 26, 1957, to the late Ralph A. and Anita Guglielmo Santora. He enjoyed coaching his grandson’s baseball team, his family was his everything and he loved them all unconditionally. Ralph’s family would like to thank Dr. Stacey Stein and the entire staff at Smilow Cancer Hospital; we are forever grateful for the precious gift of time they gave to our family.

The visiting hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7, at The Havens Family, North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue. Family and friends are invited to go directly to St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish at St. Barnabas Church, 44 Washington Avenue, North Haven at noon on Friday, Jan. 8, to attend a Mass of Christian burial (no more than 100 people allowed in church) and are also invited to attend the committal service immediately following in All Saints Cemetery. (Masks and social distancing are strictly required for all services.) In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Closer to Free Fund, Smilow, c/o Yale New Haven Hospital, P.O. Box 1849, New Haven, CT 06508. Due to COVID-19 a celebration of his life will take place in July. For his online obituary, please visit www.northhavenfuneral.com.