Ralph C. DiPietro, a longtime resident of Fishkill, died at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie on Monday, November 3, 2014 after a long struggle with heart disease. He was 71.
Son of the late Ercolino and Maria (Trequarti) DiPietro, he was born in Buchanan on August 10, 1943, the youngest of five children. After losing his father at the age of 15, Ralph taught himself to play guitar, and began a lifelong passion for music. In the early 1960s, he played Fender bass guitar with Joey Greco & The In Crowd at classic NYC clubs; such as, Trudy Hellers, The Peppermint Lounge and played on tours that traveled to Miami, Buenos Aries, San Paulo and Mexico City. One night, they opened for Gene Krupa at The Metropole Club in Manhattan, and had a drummer named Peter Criscuola, later to be known as Peter Criss of the band KISS. In 1963 & 1964, he found himself in Paris as the bassist for French star Johnny Hallyday's band, Joey & The Showmen, where he recorded albums, singles and appeared on French television. Joey & The Showmen had a French hit with their instrumental version of Chuck Berry's "Memphis" and also backed up British singer Vince Taylor for his single version of the song.
Ralph started a family and in 1966 became a small business owner, starting with Buchanan Musical Instruments Store in Buchanan, NY; followed by the opening of Da-Ros Corner Store in Buchanan.
In 1982, Ralph moved his family to Fishkill where he became the proprietor of Hometown Deli and owner of Hometown Horse Farm. Horses were another of his passions and for a time he owned Pacer and Trotter standardbred race horses, which raced regionally. Later, he took up the western equestrian sports of Team Penning & Cutting, and later briefly owned a horse transportation business.
He is survived by a daughter, Dawn Cavaccini and her husband Dan of Wappingers Falls; two sons, Raymond Di Pietro of Nashville, TN, and Robert Di Pietro of Los Angeles, CA; his grandchildren, Danielle and Joe Cavaccini; his companion & fiancé, Maureen Mohammed of Yorktown Heights; his former wife, Louise Ferro DiPietro; his sister, Mary Perez and her husband Nikolai of Cortlandt Manor; and many nieces, nephews, and other loving relatives and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents and three brothers, Nicky, Joseph, and Harry.
Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5 at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 6 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street, Fishkill. Interment will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, November 7 at Assumption Cemetery, 1055 Oregon Road, Cortlandt Manor.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Foundation for Vassar Brothers Medical Center, 45 Reade Place, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 (In memo: restricted to cardiac care unit) or the American Heart Association.
For directions, online condolences, and memorial donations, please visit Ralph's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.