Ralph Angel Berrios, 54, Foster Parent with LCCS

Ralph fought the battle of cancer for a year wanting to see his son Evan graduate from high school. Being the strong father he was, Ralph accomplished that goal as Evan crossed the stage and received his diploma from Clearview High School on May 30th, 2018.

Ralph worked for Lorain County Job Department of Job and Family Services, served as a foster parent with LCCS for seven years. He was a volunteer board member of Lorain Neighborhood Alliance, volunteer for Lorain County Community Action Agency and Head Start programs, as well as a volunteer at the Lorain Boys and Girls Club. Ralph lettered in four years of baseball and three years of basketball at Southview High School. He served as assistant basketball coach to Hall of Fame Coach Larry Stark until receiving his own coaching position at Lorain County Community College. Along with that he also was an assistant basketball coach at Brookside High School, assistant baseball coach at Southview High School, and head baseball coach of Ohio Giants Baseball in which he coached his son Evan. On top of all of that Ralph was a baseball umpire for over twenty years. Ralph was inducted into the Lorain County Coaches Hall of Fame in 2018 and was inducted into the Lorain County Hall of Fame twice as a member of both Lorain Hungarian and Lorain Franks men’s fast pitch teams. Other achievements include receiving a proclamation from Mayor Chase Ritenauer in 2017 and Ralph served as Vice President for Union 2192.

Ralph leaves behind his wife of eighteen years Tina Showalter-Berrios of Elyria; his son Evan and daughter Nevaeh at home; along with sons Tyler (Madison) Natal of Tampa, Florida and Mikey Hernandez of Elyria; grandchildren, Pharoah, Luna, and Kirtis; his loving mother Elizabeth Cruz of Lorain, brothers Nandi (Michele) Cruz, Robert (Angie) Cruz, , Richie Cruz, Geli Cruz all of Lorain and Rafael (Nilsa) Berrios of Atlanta Georgia; sister Carmen (Drew) Tejada of Elyria; sister-in-laws Judy (Chris) Dembinski-Arroyo of Parma and Anna Showalter of Lorain; step mother Emmyne Berrios of Atlanta, Georgia; father in law Kirt Showalter of Oak Hill, West Virginia; his Godparents Harry and Lydia Guerrieri and Angel Sr. and Mary Rodriguez, and Godchildren Angelo Cruz and Nina Yanick.

Preceded in death by his son Anthony Berrios in 1995, a son in infancy in 1999, his father Rafael Berrios Sr., his brother Arnie Berrios, and Grandfather Ulpiano Ocasio.

Special thank you to LCDJFS, LCCAA/Head Start, Clearview Local Schools, Elyria City Schools, and the Rodriguez, Medina, Moon, Bramhall, Stark, and Majoras families for the constant love and support.

His family will receive friends Thursday, June 7 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM and also Friday at 8:30 AM until the time of Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM at Sacred Heart Chapel, 4301 Pearl Avenue, Lorain Rev. Father John C. Retar, Pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish, Lorain will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain, with Military Honors conducted by AMVETS Post 32 of Elyria.

Arrangements are by Richard J. Reidy Funeral Home, 1783 East 31 Street, South Lorain, (440) 277-8164. For further information and for expressions of sympathy, see Reidyfuneral.com.