Ralph Henderson Hood was the third son of Kathryn Henderson Hood and William Paul Hood. He was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, first in West Philadelphia and later in Mount Airy. He later lived in Chestnut Hill, Flourtown, Newtown and Doylestown.
Ralph graduated from Episcopal Academy in 1953, where he was a member of the football team. He also attended Camp Susquehannock for several years where he became a camp counselor. Ralph graduated from Brown University in 1957, where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Upon graduation, he entered the U.S. Army Reserves and subsequently went on to a long career as a stockbroker and investment banker working at Girard Bank, Parish and Company, Lionel D. Edie Company, Manufacturers Hanover and after proud decades, ended his career at PNC Bank.
Ralph married Sue Stowell of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in June 1964. He is survived by their two children, Heather McInroy Hood and Ralph Jr (Hank), grand children Cooper Hood Jacobus, Benjamin Hood Jacobus, Sylvia Rutkowski, Lucille Rutkowski Hood and Harriet Rutkowski Hood. Ralph married Adele Fitzgerald in 1989, now deceased. Ralph was predeceased by his parents and brothers, Henry Lewis Hood III and Paul Forrester Hood.
A longtime member of Philadelphia Cricket Club, he was on the Admissions Board and Tennis Committee, proudly making room for more diverse membership in the late 1970s and 1980s. Ralph loved playing squash and tennis -which he continued playing into his early 80s. He never missed a game as line judge for his son’s Water Tower Soccer Club team in Chestnut Hill and enjoyed watching his daughter’s tennis tournaments. He loved sports -especially his beloved Phillies and Eagles. Ralph has been a resident of Wesley Enhanced Living for a decade, active as Vice President of the Residents’ Committee and a bocce player.
A service and reception will be held at Heritage Hall at Wesley Enhanced Living, at 200 Veterans Lane, Doylestown, Pennsylvania at 11:00 am on Monday, August 21st, 2023.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ralph can be made in his name to Morris Arboretum, University of Pennsylvania, by sending a check to Morris Arboretum, 100 East Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118 or online at https://experience.morrisarboretum.org/MembershipAndDonations.aspx?TributeOnly=True.
