Jeffery D. Ralston
October 31, 1965 - September 22, 2000
"He was always there for you no questions asked. He would wash your car just because it needed it.
It was dirty, he'd say. He would fix the broken blind that others ignored, install and program electronics that would confuse others,
call to arrange a lunch date when he hadn't seen you for awhile.
He was a true friend."
Jeff Ralston was born on Halloween, October 31, 1965. He was pure joy as a baby and such help when his little sister, Stephanie, arrived eighteen months later. He fell into the helpful "big brother" role and perfected it the remainder of his life.
He grew up in small town, Newark, Ohio, during times when it was safe to ride bicycles wherever he wanted, where he and his sister could pick strawberries in the fields across the street from his home and peddle them for a small profit in the neighborhood. Using the family riding lawn mower, they ran a neighborhood lawn mowing business. Jeff was responsible for equipment maintenance, Stephanie kept the books, and both did the mowing, an effective lesson in responsibility and hard work. Both had responsibilities to help around the house as well. They attended St. Francis grade school and junior high, an easy ten-minute bike ride. It took less time to ride to their grandparents' house. All was convenient. Life was good.
Jeff was always busy. When he wasn't being catcher for his Little League team, he was a willing field hand on a nearby farm, doing any task they would allow him to do. Much to his parents' dismay, he was allowed to drive the huge harvesters in the fields when he was in junior high. He loved that. He could discuss the operating procedures and maintenance of the equipment as if he had been farming for years. Jeff knew how to work, wasn't afraid to get dirty and loved it all.
The family moved from Ohio to Maryland in 1980 and Jeff and his sister attended high school at St. Mary's Catholic High School in Annapolis. Jeff was used to the regimen of a Catholic school, but found St. Mary's more intense and demanding than he expected. Although very intelligent, he could be content with just enough to get by if he wasn't motivated. He would rather be doing something hands-on than studying. St. Mary's provided the motivation that Jeff needed.
The first of his friends to get a driver's license, Jeff drove his sister and the neighbor kids to school every day. Surprisingly, the neighbor allowed Jeff to drive their late model Audi. He loved that. Again, he proved himself to be very responsible and dependable, looking after everyone before going about his own needs.
During high school, Jeff and the neighbor friends sailed J-24's in the Annapolis Wednesday night sailboat races. They relished their wins against the experienced Annapolis sailors. Years later, he still enjoyed sailing, then on larger sailboats with ocean trips to Maine and Newport, RI. At golf, he had a mean drive and a respectable handicap. Always with an easy smile, ready with the joke of the day, he knew how to have fun. He made friends easily and everyone was his friend.
As graduation approached, Jeff found his classmates at St. Mary's aspired to college degrees, and he found his own dreams of farming being replaced with plans of college and business pursuits. He also found he had formed close friendships at St. Mary's which lasted throughout his life. The influence of St. Mary's High School and his friends proved to be important for Jeff, helping him determine values and direction for his life.
After high school, Jeff attended Drexel University, a co-op university in Philadelphia, PA, attending classes six months and working six months of each year. This suited Jeff's style. He learned by doing, then by reading the directions, if all else failed. He loved to work and was best motivated by recognition for having done a job well. His first co-op assignment was with GSA, a governmental agency in Washington, DC, working with the secure communications of the government, and, as an adjunct, with computers. He had a security clearance, which pleased him.
Subsequently, during his co-op cycles at Drexel, Jeff worked as project manager in the family business, TRB Specialty Rehabilitation, Inc., a service business investigating and repairing underground pipes and structures. Jeff's mechanical ability and problem solving skills were important elements in the development of the robotic device that was the core of the business at that time. After graduation, Jeff remained with the business, serving as Operations Manager, later as Manager of Marketing and Sales, and contributed greatly to the success of the company and its reputation in the industry. The business was sold in 1996 and Jeff remained with the company through 1999.
At TRB, Jeff perfected his skills in sales and marketing. He was knowledgeable, fair, honest, hard working and tried to provide his clients with the correct solution to their particular problem at a competitive price. He was a problem solver. His reputation in the industry earned him a place on the board of directors of the industry trade association, NASSCO, the National Association of Sewer Service Companies.
During December, 1999, seeking to change careers, Jeff obtained a job in the computer software industry with Computer Associates International. Starting as a customer service representative, he was quickly promoted to Sales Associate in less than four months, a company record. He was assigned governmental contracts with clients around the country, including New Orleans, LA. At CA, his colleagues found him a team player, always willing to help, often staying late if there was something that needed to be done. His clients were also pleased with the "value added" they received from Jeff, pleased with the integrity and problem solving capability that he provided. Jeff found the problem solving and customer service skills he had learned during his life paved the way for him at CA.
Jeff was loyal. When he was offered a job by a competitive firm, Jeff declined. He said he appreciated the help of the CA colleagues who gave him a chance at a new career and he wouldn't let them down. Jeff was very excited about his future at CA and, by all standards, was doing extremely well.
Excitement also filled his personal life. During early August, Jeff surprised Julie, his girlfriend of several years, by meeting her in Key West with an engagement ring in his pocket. Jeff was happy. He was at the top of his world, so excited about all aspects of his future. Plans were underway for a spring wedding. On September 22nd their engagement notice appeared in the Annapolis newspaper.
On September 20th, while on an overnight business trip to New Orleans, Jeff mentioned to his CA colleagues at dinner that he had an earache and chills. He tugged on his ear occasionally, but was his jovial self. After dinner, they all walked with him to a taxi, laughing about the affairs of the day. Jeff returned alone to his hotel room. He died suddenly of acute pneumococcal meningitis by the next morning. Jeff was 34 years old.
As his family and friends console each other and remember his life, consistent traits are mentioned. His friends describe Jeff as "dependable and always there to help," "Calm, level headed, and down to earth." "He liked the good things of life, but valued his friends more," they said. Jeff was admired for his values, his honesty, his hard work ethic, his sense of fairness, for being a friend to all, especially someone new or someone having a hard time. It has become apparent that values and ethics were the core qualities of Jeff's life.
Another message is also apparent. Life is short. Life is fragile. Each day is all that is guaranteed.
Though many lessons can be learned from Jeff's life, one seems to come to the forefront. It is not possible to control the span of your life, you have little control over how long you will live on this earth, but you do have control over the values you choose to guide your life. You have the ability to set your priorities and live your life in a way that will make a difference in this world and in the lives of those important to you. Jeff did and had an impact on so many, an impact that will remain forever along with his memory.
About this Scholarship
Jeff's friends and family have sought to continue his legacy by contributing to a memorial fund to provide scholarships for seniors of St. Mary's High School in Annapolis, Maryland. Each year, one or two seniors who best exhibit the qualities exemplified in his biography and meet the basic scholarship requirements will be awarded this scholarship.
St. Mary's High School had considerable influence on Jeff's life. The education he received and the lasting friends he made during his years at St. Mary's were significant and important aspects of his life. The fundamental values of integrity, moral fiber, and character, central to a St. Mary's education and so apparent in Jeff's life, were vital to the success he achieved and the wonderful person he became.
Jeff Ralston was born on Halloween, October 31, 1965. He was pure joy as a baby and such help when his little sister, Stephanie, arrived eighteen months later. He fell into the helpful "big brother" role and perfected it the remainder of his life.
He grew up in small town, Newark, Ohio, during times when it was safe to ride bicycles wherever he wanted, where he and his sister could pick strawberries in the fields across the street from his home and peddle them for a small profit in the neighborhood. Using the family riding lawn mower, they ran a neighborhood lawn mowing business. Jeff was responsible for equipment maintenance, Stephanie kept the books, and both did the mowing, an effective lesson in responsibility and hard work. Both had responsibilities to help around the house as well. They attended St. Francis grade school and junior high, an easy ten-minute bike ride. It took less time to ride to their grandparents' house. All was convenient. Life was good.
Jeff was always busy. When he wasn't being catcher for his Little League team, he was a willing field hand on a nearby farm, doing any task they would allow him to do. Much to his parents' dismay, he was allowed to drive the huge harvesters in the fields when he was in junior high. He loved that. He could discuss the operating procedures and maintenance of the equipment as if he had been farming for years. Jeff knew how to work, wasn't afraid to get dirty and loved it all.
The family moved from Ohio to Maryland in 1980 and Jeff and his sister attended high school at St. Mary's Catholic High School in Annapolis. Jeff was used to the regimen of a Catholic school, but found St. Mary's more intense and demanding than he expected. Although very intelligent, he could be content with just enough to get by if he wasn't motivated. He would rather be doing something hands-on than studying. St. Mary's provided the motivation that Jeff needed.
The first of his friends to get a driver's license, Jeff drove his sister and the neighbor kids to school every day. Surprisingly, the neighbor allowed Jeff to drive their late model Audi. He loved that. Again, he proved himself to be very responsible and dependable, looking after everyone before going about his own needs.
During high school, Jeff and the neighbor friends sailed J-24's in the Annapolis Wednesday night sailboat races. They relished their wins against the experienced Annapolis sailors. Years later, he still enjoyed sailing, then on larger sailboats with ocean trips to Maine and Newport, RI. At golf, he had a mean drive and a respectable handicap. Always with an easy smile, ready with the joke of the day, he knew how to have fun. He made friends easily and everyone was his friend.
As graduation approached, Jeff found his classmates at St. Mary's aspired to college degrees, and he found his own dreams of farming being replaced with plans of college and business pursuits. He also found he had formed close friendships at St. Mary's which lasted throughout his life. The influence of St. Mary's High School and his friends proved to be important for Jeff, helping him determine values and direction for his life.
After high school, Jeff attended Drexel University, a co-op university in Philadelphia, PA, attending classes six months and working six months of each year. This suited Jeff's style. He learned by doing, then by reading the directions, if all else failed. He loved to work and was best motivated by recognition for having done a job well. His first co-op assignment was with GSA, a governmental agency in Washington, DC, working with the secure communications of the government, and, as an adjunct, with computers. He had a security clearance, which pleased him.
Subsequently, during his co-op cycles at Drexel, Jeff worked as project manager in the family business, TRB Specialty Rehabilitation, Inc., a service business investigating and repairing underground pipes and structures. Jeff's mechanical ability and problem solving skills were important elements in the development of the robotic device that was the core of the business at that time. After graduation, Jeff remained with the business, serving as Operations Manager, later as Manager of Marketing and Sales, and contributed greatly to the success of the company and its reputation in the industry. The business was sold in 1996 and Jeff remained with the company through 1999.
At TRB, Jeff perfected his skills in sales and marketing. He was knowledgeable, fair, honest, hard working and tried to provide his clients with the correct solution to their particular problem at a competitive price. He was a problem solver. His reputation in the industry earned him a place on the board of directors of the industry trade association, NASSCO, the National Association of Sewer Service Companies.
During December, 1999, seeking to change careers, Jeff obtained a job in the computer software industry with Computer Associates International. Starting as a customer service representative, he was quickly promoted to Sales Associate in less than four months, a company record. He was assigned governmental contracts with clients around the country, including New Orleans, LA. At CA, his colleagues found him a team player, always willing to help, often staying late if there was something that needed to be done. His clients were also pleased with the "value added" they received from Jeff, pleased with the integrity and problem solving capability that he provided. Jeff found the problem solving and customer service skills he had learned during his life paved the way for him at CA.
Jeff was loyal. When he was offered a job by a competitive firm, Jeff declined. He said he appreciated the help of the CA colleagues who gave him a chance at a new career and he wouldn't let them down. Jeff was very excited about his future at CA and, by all standards, was doing extremely well.
Excitement also filled his personal life. During early August, Jeff surprised Julie, his girlfriend of several years, by meeting her in Key West with an engagement ring in his pocket. Jeff was happy. He was at the top of his world, so excited about all aspects of his future. Plans were underway for a spring wedding. On September 22nd their engagement notice appeared in the Annapolis newspaper.
On September 20th, while on an overnight business trip to New Orleans, Jeff mentioned to his CA colleagues at dinner that he had an earache and chills. He tugged on his ear occasionally, but was his jovial self. After dinner, they all walked with him to a taxi, laughing about the affairs of the day. Jeff returned alone to his hotel room. He died suddenly of acute pneumococcal meningitis by the next morning. Jeff was 34 years old.
As his family and friends console each other and remember his life, consistent traits are mentioned. His friends describe Jeff as "dependable and always there to help," "Calm, level headed, and down to earth." "He liked the good things of life, but valued his friends more," they said. Jeff was admired for his values, his honesty, his hard work ethic, his sense of fairness, for being a friend to all, especially someone new or someone having a hard time. It has become apparent that values and ethics were the core qualities of Jeff's life.
Another message is also apparent. Life is short. Life is fragile. Each day is all that is guaranteed.
Though many lessons can be learned from Jeff's life, one seems to come to the forefront. It is not possible to control the span of your life, you have little control over how long you will live on this earth, but you do have control over the values you choose to guide your life. You have the ability to set your priorities and live your life in a way that will make a difference in this world and in the lives of those important to you. Jeff did and had an impact on so many, an impact that will remain forever along with his memory.
About this Scholarship
Jeff's friends and family have sought to continue his legacy by contributing to a memorial fund to provide scholarships for seniors of St. Mary's High School in Annapolis, Maryland. Each year, one or two seniors who best exhibit the qualities exemplified in his biography and meet the basic scholarship requirements will be awarded this scholarship.
St. Mary's High School had considerable influence on Jeff's life. The education he received and the lasting friends he made during his years at St. Mary's were significant and important aspects of his life. The fundamental values of integrity, moral fiber, and character, central to a St. Mary's education and so apparent in Jeff's life, were vital to the success he achieved and the wonderful person he became.