Raffaele “Ralph” Sozio, of Mount Vernon, who owned a barber shop on Fifth Avenue in downtown Pelham, passed away on Tuesday, December 10th 2019. He was 85 years old.

Ralph was born in Pratola Serra Italy to Rocco & Assunta Sozio. He was raised in Italy with his three brothers Luigi, Nicola and Geraldo. Ralph immigrated to the United States on April 1st 1966 to pursue a better life. It was shortly thereafter he would meet the love of his life, Carmela “Millie” Rapisarda, and they would marry at Mount Carmel Church in Mount Vernon.

Ralph was a barber who thoroughly enjoyed his profession. Sitting in his chair wasn’t just a haircut, but an experience. He began cutting hair in Italy as a teenager to help support his family. When he first came to America, he worked in Mount Vernon, then in Pelham, followed by a few years in Tuckahoe. Ralph fulfilled his lifelong dream in 1991 when he returned to Pelham and opened his own shop. He was a fixture on 5th Avenue in Pelham for many years where multiple generations of families went to him for his services. Always greeting his customers with a smile and joke, Ralph will be dearly missed. But most of all Ralph will be remembered as a family man. He adored and truly enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was known to always help people in need and couldn’t refuse or say no to anyone.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 50 years Millie, his two sons Ralph (Karen) and Joseph (Karen) Sozio and his two grandchildren Amanda and Nicholas.

A celebration of Ralph’s life will take place at the Pelham Funeral Home, located at 64 Lincoln Avenue, Pelham, New York on Saturday, December 14th from 4:00 to 8:00PM and Sunday December 15th from 3:00PM to 7:00PM A Funeral Mass will take place at Immaculate Conception Church located at 257 White Plains Rd, Eastchester, New York on Monday, December 16th at 10:30 AM. Internment will follow at Ferncliff Cemetery.

Editor’s note: This obituary was provided by the Pelham Funeral Home.