Ron Hasselmann, Ralph’s first trumpet teacher, St. Olaf College and trumpet, Minnesota Orchestra spoke at Ralph’s memorial service in 2007.

I’d like to think that I was responsible for Ralph, for making Ralph into the first class trumpeter that he was.  But, I know better.  The truth is, he came to St. Olaf College as a Freshman in 1969 and was already playing like a Senior.  He was like a sponge, soaking up everything I had to offer.  “Work up these etudes”, I said.  “No problem”, Ralph said.  “Play this back in E-flat” . . . “no problem”, he said.  I’d say, “Play this series of progressions”, he would say, “Starting on what note and what octave”.  I would bring orchestral excerpts for him to play, next week he had them all mastered.  He graduated from St. Olaf in ’73, went to New York and went to the Manhattan School of Music.  He was a very successful freelance trumpeter.  And I was glad when he told us he was coming back to Minnesota in 1982, where he successfully continued his career.  We remained the best of friends, playing together on jobs and occasionally duets in my studio and occasionally at gigs. Needless to say, I miss him.  We all miss him.