Ralph has held many volunteer roles over the last 20 years with Aging Ahead. Although the roles varied, Ralph’s underlying purpose never wavered: “Do what needs done to help others.” Whether that meant delivering meals to homebound older adults, advocating as a Silver Haired Legislator, serving on support and advisory committees or bringing a smile to someone who needed one, Aging Ahead could count on Ralph! His friendly, welcoming personality made him an easy person to go to for assistance.
With his immediate family living out of town, Ralph struggled to find purpose after retirement, “I was at a place in my life where I needed connections and a purpose.” Ralph began delivering Meals on Wheels to homebound older adults. Ralph felt that by volunteering, he was impacting his community while gaining the benefits of forming long lasting social connections, by immersing himself within the Aging Ahead community.
Ralph felt he could do even more and became a member of Silver Haired Legislature, advocating positive change for Missouri older adults. Once, Ralph infamously announced to a large crowd at a SHL conference that he was “a man of the people” – we couldn’t agree more.
Thank you, Ralph and good luck in New York. We will miss you and are so lucky to have been aging ahead with you for so many years.
Support Highlights: Meals on Wheels Volunteer, Silver Haired Legislature, Aging Ahead Advisory Committee, and Location Support Committee.