Ralph W. Grambo, Jr., Ph.D., Poyntelle, Wayne County, passed away Friday morning in the Hospice of the Sacred Heart Inpatient Unit with his family by his side.
Born 1942 in Scranton, he was the son of the late Ralph Sr. and Ludmilla Hudacs Grambo and was a graduate of Holy Rosary High School. Dr. Grambo went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Scranton. During his time at the University, he enrolled with the ROTC program and upon graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the Pentagon. While serving at the Pentagon he continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and earned his Master of Business Administration Degree with a focus on Finance. He went on to become a doctoral student at Wharton, but his studies were interrupted by the Vietnam War. During his service in the United States Army he was awarded the Bronze Star. Upon returning home from the war, he completed his studies and earned a Doctorate in Finance from the Wharton School. Dr. Grambo went on to teach as an Associate Professor of Finance at the University of Scranton, where he also served as Associate Dean of the Kania School of Management.
Ralph loved playing his accordion and the piano. He equally loved the outdoors including time spent at his beloved Lake Lorain, swimming, snowmobiling, and riding ATVs.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt and genuine thanks to the nurses and staff at the Geisinger Community Medical Center 7th floor EMU and the Hospice of the Sacred Heart for the excellent care they provided to Ralph in his final weeks.
Surviving are his brother Ron Grambo and his wife Judy of South Abington Twp.; nephew Mark Grambo and his wife Samantha of Raleigh, North Carolina; niece Erin Skarbez and her husband Jason of Mayfield; two great nephews Luke and Jack Skarbez; cousin Dennis Hudacs and his wife Judie of Dunmore.
He was also preceded in death by his companion Leatrice “Lee” Vroom.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10am in the Church of St Gregory 330 N. Abington Rd. Clarks Green by Rev. John M. Lapera, pastor.
Friends may call Wednesday from 4-7 in the Vanston and James Funeral Home 1401 Ash Street Scranton and Thursday morning from 9am until the time of Mass at the Church of St. Gregory.
Interment, private at the convenience of the family in St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Moscow.
To share a memory or to express your condolences to the family please visit www.vanstonandjames.com.
In lieu of flowers the family encourages memorial contributions be made to the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter 967 Griffin Pond Rd, South Abington Township, PA 18411 or to the Wounded Warrior Project t, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516
Barbara Griguts
We are so very sorry to hear of Ralph’s passing away. He was a a great guy to work for while I was at the University of Scranton. Our heartfelt condolences to the family. Barbara and Michael Griguts
Barbie Griffin
Mr. Grambo was a unique man. I had the privilege to speak with him on a few occasions. We as a club, NepSnoTrails, would like to extend our condolences to the family. We are sorry for your loss.
David L. Burrier
Dr. Gram I was a Great Professor. Dr. Ralph’s Name is written in The Book of Life!
David L. Burrier, Scranton, Pa., U of S. 1977, Vietnam Veteran, Past Post Commander VFW Post #4909, Dupont, Pa.
Satya Chattopadhyay
Ralph was a good friend and a wonderful colleague and I benefited tremendously from his counsel and mentoring when I started at the University of Scranton as a rookie faculty member back in 1990. He never failed to make us laugh with the hilarious stories of his adventures involving ATVs and wild life (bears in particular). Good bye, friend.
Joseph Annacarto
Dr Grambo was my advisor in the MBA program. He helped with my admission to and my raise to candidacy. To be accepted as a candidate I needed to have a macroeconomic class. I took this class at Penn State and tried to transfer it. Well the U of S denied the transfer in because I was not a candidate.
Went to Dr Grambo he laughed and said we have a catch 22. Don’t worry about I’ll take care of it.
Next week transferred credits and I was a candidate. I Graduated thanks to you Dr G.. May God bless you for all you have done.
Gerald Allen Ephault
Ralph had an infectious smile! He always welcomed my Brothers, Son, and Grandsons with that smile, whenever we visited him. He was eager to find about our hunting or fishing activities. I recall the accordion music too, and the joy Ralph had playing those toons. He and Lee were an adventurous pair with ATVs and snowmobiles. I met Dr. Grambo as an undergraduate at the University of Scranton, and had enjoyed his friendship over these past decades. He is missed.
Gerald Ephault and Family
Karen Stark
Ralph was such a dear friend and neighbor for my entire life. He touch our lives in so many ways he will be missed greatly. I cannot believe he will no longer be riding around our lake on his ATVs. My heart felt condolences for Ron and his family. Always will be in our hearts.
Patrick King
Ron, Families, and Friends
I’m sorry to hear of Ralph’s passing. He was a fine gentleman, scholar, and veteran. His stewardship maintained Lake Lorain as a most pleasant place to live. I will always be indebted for the friendship and concern he had for my parents, John and Loretta.
Gary Kwiecinski
Dear Ron, Judy and Family,
My sincere condolences on the passing of Ralph. My fondest memories are having lunch with him at the Estate and hearing about his exploits at lake Lorain, and his generous counsel as I was progressing through the ranks at the University of Scranton. I hope you are consoled by happy memories and times as I am. Gary
Erica Nodell (Olson)
We are deeply saddened to hear of Ralph’s passing. He was a constant presence and his devotion to all things Lake Lorain was unmatched. A kind and talented man, he will be greatly missed. We always loved to hear the sound of him playing the accordion from across the lake.
With sincere sympathy,
Generations of the Olson family
Mark Grambo
My name is Mark Grambo. I am Ralph’s nephew. Before focusing on Ralph’s life, my family and I would like to thank all of the aides, social workers, nurses, and doctors from Wayne Memorial, Celebration Villa, CMC, and Hospice of the Sacred Heart. Ralph received wonderful care over these last few months, and we are incredibly grateful. We would also like to thank all of you for being here and supporting us through this time.
Ralph was born and raised in North Scranton. He had a happy childhood, spending his time riding bikes with the other neighborhood boys, including one named Joe Biden, visiting the family’s newly purchased lakehouse, and admiring his younger brother’s propensity for trouble. Ralph was a rule follower and a model student throughout his time at Holy Rosary, and his brother Ron just wasn’t. Ralph would explain that Ron was a curious kid, always asking why, never taking answers at face value, which often found him at odds with the nuns. Though Ralph truly admired Ron’s sense of wonder, he also delighted in telling stories about Ron’s ability to get himself in trouble and the punishments the nuns doled out on him. He often claimed the army would have been much more well-behaved had the nuns run things.
After Holy Rosary, Ralph attended the University of Scranton, focusing on business and enrolling in the ROTC program. After graduation, Ralph was commissioned into the army as a 2nd lieutenant and assigned to work at the Pentagon. While in the military, Ralph continued his education at the Wharton School of Business, earning an MBA. He went on to a doctoral program at Wharton, but his studies were cut short by the Vietnam War.
During his time in Vietnam, Ralph served as a Captain in the Army Transportation Corps. He spent his days leading those under his command in transporting men, equipment, and munitions up and down the rivers of Vietnam. Ralph always spoke so highly of his time in the army. He believed the army helped shape him into the person he was, a confident, intelligent, and grounded leader. Though he admired the army and those he served with, he didn’t sugarcoat his time in Vietnam. He often told stories of being shot at and losing friends and soldiers under his command, both of which weighed on him heavily later in life. For his service, Ralph was awarded the bronze star for heroism.
After his time in Vietnam, Ralph returned to the University of Pennsylvania. He often proudly recalled showing up on Penn’s campus in his full army dress uniform and receiving a standing ovation from his dissertation committee for serving in Vietnam and finishing his Ph.D. He went on to teach Finance at the University of Scranton for 34 years and served as the Associate Dean, changing the lives of countless students in one way or another. You see, Ralph was never afraid to tell a student they weren’t cutting it in the business school. As playful and fun-loving as Ralph could be, he had no time for nonsense regarding academics. If you weren’t putting in the effort and completing your work, you didn’t deserve to stay.
While others may have different memories of Ralph at the University, mine revolve around lunches in the faculty lunch room of the estate building. When I was a toddler, my mom occasionally took me to have lunch with my dad and uncle Ralph on campus. I can vividly recall Ralph’s innate ability to playfully instigate arguments at these lunches among beloved colleagues like Eileen Hewett, Frank Corcione, George Reevy, and others. But regardless of how heated the discussion or how mad the colleague, Ralph could ease the tension with his calm, childlike smile. Years later, I understood the uniqueness with which his university colleagues viewed Ralph when rather than receive the traditional retirement gift of a watch or paperweight, the KSOM faculty gave Ralph a chainsaw, recognizing his propensity for practicality and the outdoors.
Given his potential reputation at the University, it may surprise some to know Ralph was also an extremely caring and compassionate person. Ralph was the primary caregiver for my Grandmother for many years after my Grandfather passed. He helped my Grandmother in countless ways, getting her to all her essential appointments, mainly to her all-important hairdressers, cooking her meals, and attending to whatever needs she might have. He was tremendously kind and generous to my Grandmother, and we were all appreciative that she had his care.
Ralph was a bachelor for most of his life, so when I heard that Ralph had a girlfriend, I was shocked and skeptical of this new woman. But all my consternation was wiped away the first time I watched Lee and Ralph interact. Lee was so good to Ralph, and Ralph adored Lee. Losing Lee a few years ago was extremely tough on Ralph. You could see it in how he would talk about and remember her. Ralph was hurt, but I believe he would not trade those years of love and affection for anything. I am so glad he found love, no matter how late in life it came.
I believe it’s appropriate to close out this eulogy with the topic most associated with Ralph in my mind: The Lake. I once asked Ralph if he had ever considered living elsewhere. He briefly considered and responded that he once had an R&R in Hawaii for a week while serving in Vietnam. He thought Hawaii at least came close to the lake and would consider living there. I think that answer sums up how highly he thought of Lake Lorain.
For myself, Erin, Dennis and Kim, the lake was entirely synonymous with Ralph. The two were a packaged deal, and part of why we loved going to the lake wasn’t just the sailing, swimming, golfing, ATV rides, or snowmobiling; it was doing all those things with Ralph. To us, he was a combination of an uncle we had complete trust in, a guide we felt safe with, and a friend we could pal around with.
Another wonder of the lake was its culinary delights. Ralph was quite a unique chef. House specialties included his world-famous napalm burgers, always frozen, never-fresh, full-fat Bubba burgers seared on a grill so hot the grease literally combusts into flames, served alongside recently opened cans of sweet corn or beets. And who can forget the delicacy that was his expertly microwaved spaghetti o’s with rough chopped hotdog pieces spread throughout. For the dessert course, freshly baked cakes were always available (that is actually true) paired with the local favorite, whatever Weis brand ice cream was on sale. Even though he wasn’t a first-class chef, food always tasted better at the lake. The fresh air, the scenery, and Ralph’s company made each meal unforgettable. On most nights, you were often treated to an after-dinner concert, as Ralph would get out his accordion or sit down at the piano to play. Usually, my dad would join with his clarinet, trying to keep up. Ralph was an exceptional musician, and regardless of how quiet that house may sit right now, for me, it will always be filled with the sounds of his music.
While I’ll miss all these things, what I will miss most were his greetings. When arriving at the lake, you were guaranteed to experience a loud and hearty hello followed by a strong reminder to shut the door or the bugs would get in, and then he’d wrap you in the most welcoming hug imaginable. When I think of Ralph now, I picture him with that famously contented smile that always had just a touch of mischief in it, spending eternity exactly how he lived life, enjoying the lake with Lee and my grandparents, playing music, cooking napalm burgers, and smiling.
Ron Grambo
I would like to thank all those that came to the service, from near and far, and especially; my wife Judy, son Mark, daughter Erin, Fr. John, the staff at the hospital and hospice.
I would like to remind everyone of Ralph’s two web sites:
For his music visit: https://www.youtube.com/@bear2009a
For Vietnam history info: http://grambo.us/atav
For information about Lake Lorain: https://sites.google.com/view/lake-lorain
George Slick
I was in 71st and came back in 71” Lost a lot of brothers there. Prayers sent for all
Randy Richmond
I was also a member of the 71st battalion in Vietnam. Ralph for many years was also a regular member of a small chat group online and always was a fountain of knowledge of our battalion, but of other transportation outfits as well. He was a joy to listen to of our time half a world away and of his/our times after. You are and always will be missed Ralph…sharpest salute…0>
John Pomponio
I was the Secretary of the Army Transportation Association Vietnam. I had the pleasure of meeting Ralph at our reunions. I also corresponded with him concerning our organization. Ralph was a kind, gracious person.