Obituary for Ralph C. Salmeron Ralph C. Salmeron, age 69, of Ann Arbor, Michigan passed away on September 26, 2018. He was born on October 20, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Rudolph C. and Mary Ramirez Salmeron. He attended the prestigious Lane Tech High School and graduated in 1966.
From high school, Ralph went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh. Ralph relocated from Chicago to Dallas where he was employed by Otis Elevator as a draft/designer. This is where he met his wife, Susan Salmeron.
In 1985, Ralph made a career change and began working for the Dallas Television Network. He quickly became a successful local television engineer/director/producer and rose in the ranks. Everything Ralph did, he did to the best of his abilities.
In 1989, Ralph accepted a position at Community Television Network (CTN) in Ann Arbor. Ralph and Susan married and joyfully moved to Michigan. They did not have children together, but Susan’s children, Jason Lee and Kelli Johnson, became Ralph’s children.
Ralph wanted the best for his new family and knew that Ann Arbor would be a place for his family to succeed and thrive. He packed up the family and pets in a U-Haul and took the leap. Ralph worked at CTN for 24 years, won numerous prestigious awards, and retired as Manager in 2013.
Ralph has always loved sports, which was influenced by his father’s love of athletics. He played football and baseball with his friends from high school and college, Rudy, Jimmy and Ken. He coached and played softball with Kelli.
His passion and love for baseball was evident in is dedication to the Chicago Cubs. He was a die-hard Cubbies fan – Go Cubs! Ralph also enjoyed University of Michigan Hockey and was a ticket holder from 1992 to 2018.
He loved taking his family to the hockey games and teaching them all about the sport. In addition to sports, Ralph appreciated and enjoyed the theater and arts. He always took Kelli, as a young child, to plays and concerts.
When his granddaughter, Sydney, was born he continued the tradition. Ralph never missed an opportunity to see a theater show, visit an art exhibit/gallery or go to a concert. Music was always an important and ever-present part of Ralph’s journey.
He continually supported the arts and educated and enriched the lives of those around him. His amazing life will forever be cherished by the lives of his wife, Susan Salmeron and daughter, Kelli Johnson and son-in-law Eric Scheel-Ayers and granddaughters, Kennedi Riecks and Sydney Barlow. He will also be deeply missed by Jason Lee, and daughter-in-law Terri Lee and grandchildren, Addison and Connor Lee.
Ralph’s life will also be celebrated by his surviving siblings: Robert and Ros Salmeron of Harlingen, Texas, Mary Ellen Gomez of Evanston, Illinois, Patty and Chuck Molter of Chicago, Illinois, Yvonne (Bonnie) and Larry Smith, of Mount Prospect, Illinois, Richard and Rhonda Salmeron of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Raul and Tiffaney of Waukegan, Illinois. He was loved by all of his many nieces and nephews. There will be a small, intimate celebration of Ralph’s life.
There will not be a funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family would love for you to donate to one of the following organizations: Wild Swan Theater, 6175 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 or Skyline Friends of the Arts, 2552 N. Maple Rd. , Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103.
Both organizations were important to Ralph and his granddaughters. “To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die”. Thomas Campbell To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Ralph C. Salmeron please visit our Sympathy Store.
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