Ralph E. Palmieri, 94, of Burrillville, died Thursday July 4, 2019 after being stricken during the Ancient and Horribles Parade in Chepachet. He was serving as Grand Marshall for the 2019 parade. Ralph was the husband of the late Alberta (Wilcox) Palmieri.
Born in Greenville, he was one of fourteen children of the late Pasquale and Mary (Melfi) Palmieri. He had most recently lived in Pascoag and had previously lived in Chepachet and Greenville.
He had served in the US Army in both WWII and Korea. Before his retirement he had worked for the State of Rhode Island as a laborer and as a foreman at Haywood and Schusters in Douglas, Massachusetts.
Ralph is survived by his daughters Rose E. Shaw of Pascoag and Alberta L. Hips of Bennettsville, SC, four grandchildren, four great grandchildren and his last surviving sibling: Margarite Boudreau of Connecticut.
His funeral service will be held Thursday at 12:45pm in the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Rt 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. Visitation will be Thursday 11am-12:45pm. Burial with military honors will follow in the RI Veteran’s Cemetery, Exeter. Please omit flowers. Donations in his memory may be made to your favorite Veteran’s charity.
The following article recently appeared in the Valley Breeze Observer
GLOCESTER – World War II and Korean War veteran Ralph Palmieri will be sitting on top of a blue convertible waving to crowds as the grand marshal of the Ancients & Horribles Fourth of July Parade this year.
The 94-year-old said he refused to ride the parade in anything else, though his friend and Glocester Town Councilor Jay Forgue tried to convince him to sit up on a chair in the back of his classic 1927 Ford pickup truck.
“I said to him, how am I supposed to get up there?” Palmieri said.
As a car fan, being in a convertible was important to Palmieri. He’s even got an annual car show coming to the Overlook Nursing Home in Burrillville now that he lives there.
He’s popular among the staff and residents and is known as the “Mayor of Overlook.” He is known for his extensive war veteran hat collection that he keeps, and his windowsill is full of solar-powered dancing figurines that he’s won in bingo and was given from friends.
His daughter, Rose Shaw, said her father has always led an active and social lifestyle, and seems to know everyone in town. He goes to lunch with the Glocester Town Council president, Buster Steere, once a month and checks in with his old town’s business.
He said he’s happy to be the grand marshal for the parade, and said he’s been in the parade in the veterans’ unit for more than 30 years.
“We still just go there to have fun,” Palmieri said.
Palmieri, who grew up in Greenville, began the Rhode Island Korean War Association and continues to stay involved with veteran affairs.
He was drafted in December 1948, and served as a scout in reconnaissance in both wars until June 1956, he said.
He worked in the Greenville Mill, and helped build the Greenville Fire Department, Palmieri said.
He received a Bronze Star for his heroic actions during a shoot-out in Korea on Jan. 18, 1951, when he delivered “deadly accurate fire” when protecting his unit.
He said he remembers that day when he ran to a machine gun mounted on an exposed jeep, and with disregard for his own safety, shot at enemy units until they were silenced, and rescued his unit from danger.
The Ancients & Horribles Parade is Thursday, July 4, on Main Street in Chepachet, beginning at 4 p.m. The political satire parade features floats made by businesses and residents poking fun at Rhode Island and world politics.
He said he and his family went to the parade every year while his kids were growing up, and he later was in the parade. He was married to his wife, Alberta, for 57 years until her death in 2012. The pair had two daughters, Rose and Alberta; four grandsons, Devin, Derick, Jarod and Giles; and four great-grandchildren, Shelby, Sebastien, Xavier and Katherine.
The Ancients & Horribles Parade Committee said Palmieri was selected to acknowledge a lifetime of giving to the committee for his service in the Korean War and World War II.
Palmieri recommended getting to the parade early to set chairs down and claim a good spot early in the morning.
“You got to get there early if you want a good spot,” Palmieri said.
Fireworks will be held on Saturday, July 6, at the Glocester Memorial Park, 52 Adelaide Road, at 9 p.m. Local bands begin playing at 3:30 p.m.
The Parade Committee also selected Robin Tyo as the honorary grand marshal of the parade for her commitment and support to many Glocester organizations.