Ralph Gaudio
elevated kAiKm August 31, 1929 – May 2, 2023
elevated kAiKm Peacefully and surrounded by family, Ralph Gaudio passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital on May 2, at the age of 93.
elevated kAiKm Born in Mendicino, a small village in the southern Italian region of Calabria, he was the eldest of seven children. After earning a rare at that time high school degree, he became a school teacher. Eventually the economic deprivations of the Great Depression and World War II, combined with his personal ambitions drove him from Calabria. After a few years in Rome experiencing La Bella Vita of the 1950s, he sought opportunity abroad. Using proceeds from the sale of the family calf, he sailed to Venezuela where he lived and worked for five years. In 1960, like so many Italians at that time, he emigrated to Canada, where he remained for the rest of his life.
elevated kAiKm Ralph displayed a natural gift as a linguist and taught himself English, Spanish and French before he had even left his homeland. That mastery of language afforded him economic opportunities that were not available to his peers. In a classic act of Italian furberia, he convinced his future employer at Deak & Co that he had previous experience in the foreign exchange business. (He didn’t.). He got the job and made a career out of it becoming a pioneer in Toronto’s foreign exchange market. In 1966 he started his own firm, RG Foreign Exchange, with the assistance of his wife Anna, whom he had just met months earlier. Shortly afterwards, they established Gaudio Tours, a travel agency. They continued to operate both businesses until 1996 when they were sold. The success of the businesses manifested itself in the building of the family home on Humbervale where Ralph enjoyed hosting every family function possible.
elevated kAiKm Ralph was introduced to Anna, a fellow Calabrian from a village just 10km from his own, in 1966. He stated his intent to marry her on their first date and they were happily married for 56 years having three sons, Joseph, Julius and Robert. They continued with many of the traditions of their homeland making wine, tomato sauce and soppressata. But Ralph’s defining act of bringing Calabria to Canada was the planting of a fig tree that grew from the smuggled branch of a tree that came from his village of Mendicino.
elevated kAiKm His love of food (always Italian), coffee (the stronger the better), wine (preferably his own) and the company others knew no bounds. He was a prolific story teller with a personality that was truly one of a kind. When he was not eating, he could be found playing Italian cards. His favourite game was scopa, which is not surprising considering that il sette bello always seemed to be up his sleeve. His keen memory made him unbeatable, even late in life.
elevated kAiKm
From the sale of a single calf, he was able to build a prosperous life for his family. His story is the true embodiment of the immigrant’s dream. Ralph was a remarkable individual with a powerful will to live that carried him through physical ailments in his later years. He was a doting husband, loving father and grandfather and larger than life Zio to his extended family. His sharp wit and recollection of every detail of historic and family events will be missed dearly by his family and friends.
elevated kAiKm Ralph is survived by his wife of 56 years, Anna, his three sons, Joseph (Alicia), Julius (Belma) and Robert, four grandchildren Dante, Giovanna, Ralph Jr and Vigo, sister Maria and brothers Dominic (Angela) and Tony (Susan). He is predeceased by brother Francesco and sisters Immacolata and Rita.
elevated kAiKm In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his honor to The Covenant House or a charity of your choosing in his honor.
elevated kAiKm Visitation
Monday, May 8, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Catholic Cremation Services
6933 Tomken Road, Mississauga, ON L5T 1N4
elevated kAiKm Funeral Service
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
Catholic Cremation Services
6933 Tomken Road, Mississauga, ON L5T 1N4
elevated kAiKm To view the funeral service, please click HERE
elevated kAiKm Entombment
Assumption Catholic Cemetery
6933 Tomken Road, Mississauga, ON L5T 1N4
Fate smiled upon us, the day you became our brother-in-law from the very beginning, we felt “at home” in your presence and we knew in our hearts that we would grow closer through the years. Now, as we look back on time, we are reminded of just how much we have shared, and we are grateful that we were blessed with a brother-in-law whose warmth , thoughtfulness and sense of compassion served to make our days brighter, our sorrows more bearable and our lives richer in so many ways. For this…we feel fortunate beyond measure. Carmine & Pia brother in laws.
My condolences to your family, RIP Ralph 🙏🏻❤️
My deepest condolences. I just found out this information two days ago. I am so sorry to hear this funny robust, intelligent man from Italy passed away. My deepest condolences to his wife and children. May God protect you during this rough patch in your lives.
Dear Julius,
Please know that We are with you in your difficult time. Please accept our sincerest condolences. We are thinking of you
.🤲🏼
Hey Ju, I’m really story. Your Dad was an awesome and wry person whom I always enjoyed being with, and he made what must have been the best homemade salami in Canada. Hope you, Belma and the boys are handling this ok and doing well.
Rob,what a Great Celebration of Life your family will have for your Dad.
Sending you Peace & Love
Just an amazing man, with a wonderful family and a love of life. Looking forward to celebrating his memory with all of you.
Much love,
Sascha, Sophie, Laryssa and Kirk
We have so many lovely memories of your family, with Ralph and Anna often at the center. We’re sending all of you so much love. Xoxo
Our deepest condolences Julius.
Your Father embodied what it takes to be a successful immigrant to this fine land we call home. He worked his ass off for his family, and cherished the family moments.
He was what many Canadians try to embody. A hard working and family driven human being.
May he rest in peace.🙏
Anna, Rob, and the Gaudio clan.. Celebrating the memory of dear Ralph and sending you all so much love in spirit. ✨ He was such a remarkable man and a ‘champion of life well-lived’. All the fur kids are there to warmly welcome him back home ✨🤍🕊️
Our deepest sympathies to the entire Gaudio Family. Big Ralph was a great man, and it was a honor to know him. To hear his life story is like something out of a great movie. He lived life to the fullest, and set a standard for all of us to strive for. RIP Ralph. Sending love from Colorado.
Our deepest condolences, I miss the pleasure of having coffee with him and Anna in Florida. May he rest in Peace.
Anna and Family… Our deepest condolences on the passing of Ralph. Cherish the fond memories you have of him as a husband and father. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. He will be missed. May he rest in peace.
Luigi Arnieri and family
Ciao Ralph, sarai sempre nei nostri cuori tra i ricordi più belli. Hai aperto la tua casa alla nostra famiglia e grazie a te ed Anna, abbiamo avuto la fortuna di trascorrere dei bellissimi momenti insieme.
Condoglianze a tutti voi dalla famiglia Mazzocchi.
Anna and Family,
Our deepest condolences to the family.
Ralph was a great man to have known.
Our prayers are with him as he watches us from above.
This is very beautiful, I feel like I know him now, what a life…