Ralph F. Lang

Ralph F. Lang, 91, of West Hartford, beloved husband of Marion (Carpenter), passed away peacefully at home on Friday, December 1, 2017, after a long illness. He was born November 28, 1926, in New Britain, the son of the late Joseph and Alice (Taucher) Lang. After graduating from New Britain High School, he served in the US Navy as World War II was concluding. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1951 and was employed by Aetna Life & Casualty for more than three decades. A few years after retirement, he satisfied a desire to keep busy by working part-time as a tax preparer for H&R Block. After their children were grown, he and his wife fulfilled their desire to travel, venturing -- usually with close friends -- to Hawaii, the Canadian Rockies, Florida, Alaska, and Europe. His favorite destination, however, was a family cottage in Point Judith, R.I., where the best parts of his summers were spent playing with his grandchildren. He took great joy in life’s simple pleasures, from reading several newspapers each day to listening to music, especially the piano playing of the late Frankie Carle. He enjoyed frequent trips with family to Fenway Park. His lifelong allegiance to the Red Sox was second only to his affection for the UConn women’s basketball team. A devout Catholic, he was a communicant of St. Mark the Evangelist Church in West Hartford. Besides his wife of 57 years, he is survived by two sons, David and his wife Jacinta of Merrimack, N.H., and Gregory and his wife Jean of Milton, Mass.; four grandchildren, Michael, Catherine, Abigail, and Maureen; a brother, Robert of Kensington; and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Harold and Kenneth; and three sisters, Louise, Marguerite, and Marian. Calling hours will be Monday December 4 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, 136 South Main St., West Hartford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday December 5 at 10 a.m. at St. Mark the Evangelist Church, 467 South Quaker Lane, West Hartford. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in West Hartford. For online condolences and directions please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com . In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ralph’s name to one of his favorite charities, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.