Page 12 - Italian American Herald - December 2019

12 ITALIANAMERICANHERALD.COM | DECEMBER 2019 ITALIAN-AMERICANHERALD
IN MEMORIAM
Publisher Ralph Martinelli, vice president of Today Media, age 57
By Melissa Cannavo-Marino
Ralph Martinelli, the youngest of former Yonkers, New York, mayor Angelo Martinel- li's six sons, who followed his father into the publishing business as publisher of Westches- ter Magazine, and brother of Delaware Valley Italian-American Herald publisher and editor Robert Martinelli, passed away on Nov. 2 at a care facility in New Rochelle, New York.
Ralph was a publishing luminary who led a successful magazine and event business in the Hudson Valley for 35 years. He passed peacefully, surrounded by his brothers, fiancée, and family members. He was 57.
For 16 months, Mr. Martinelli, who lived in Ossining, New York, had battled to recover from the after-effects of a catastrophic illness related to complications from surgery.
As a publisher, Mr. Martinelli created Westchester magazine, now in its 19th year. His vision and creativity were instrumental in creating and growing it into the iconic
local brand it would become. In addition to flagship publication and the successful family of ancillary publications it would engender, he was also the driving force behind numerous long-running and popular events like Best of Westchester, and Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Festival, including Burger & Beer Blast.
Mr. Martinelli was a partner and vice president in Today Media, the parent company of the Herald, a successful multi-platform publishing company in
the print, digital, and events categories, along with his deceased father, Angelo,
and brothers Robert and Richard. He was previously the publisher of Hudson Valley magazine, where he started his career in advertising sales in the 1980s while working with his brother Tom.
Mr. Martinelli was born in 1962, grew up in Yonkers, the youngest of six sons of former Yonkers Mayor Angelo Martinelli. His mother was Carol Martinelli. He is survived by five
brothers, Michael, Paul, Robert, Richard, Thomas, and their wives, along with many nieces and nephews, and his fiancée, Halina Sabath.
The outpouring of calls and notes from people throughout his illness are a testament to the many lives Ralph Martinelli touched. He was roundly regarded as generous, compassionate,
a great boss and colleague, the young uncle and pal
to his nieces and nephews, and friend to the business community. Ralph was someone who never uttered a bad word about anyone. He was a bon vivant and lover of life. He was loved by many and will be sorely missed. IAH
GUEST EDITORIAL
Be mindful of needy among us not just at Christmas, but all year
By Jeanne Outlaw-Cannavo
This time of year can get pretty hectic. Everyone’s getting ready for Christmas, the most wonderful time of the
year! As mentioned in last month’s opinion column, the holiday season has become as much a commercial event as a spiritual one. While I admit gift-giving and strolling the malls are part of what makes the holiday season fun for many, it sometimes takes away from the real meaning of the season. It really should be the time of year to reflect back on the past year and for most Italians and Italian- Americans to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It
is a time to remember what it means to share good will with all people regardless of their ethnicity, race or religion, and to hold close to our hearts a hope for peace in a world shrouded in turmoil.
This holy season often ends abruptly for some on Dec. 26 or for others when the last
string band struts down Broad Street on New Year’s Day. Others may continue to celebrate the season until Epiphany. Then we often get caught up in the business of life with work, caretaking and all the stresses of everyday chores and those feeling of peace and good will to all can easily be forgotten. This coming year why not make a resolution to keep the spirit of the holiday all year long? It may
not be easy but if everyone would make that effort, it might not solve the world’s problems, but it certainly would make the world a better place.
Remember also those less fortunate. Again we often get so wrapped up in the worries
of buying gifts for Christmas that we don’t think of those many unfortunate people who must live without those luxuries, through no fault of their own. It doesn’t take a lot of time or money to bring a toy to a Toys for Tots dropoff location or bring a non-perishable food item to a food bank. I believe we all have love and caring for others in our hearts but we often feel overwhelmed just managing
our own lives. Let us count our blessings and strive to live the true meaning of this season. On behalf of the staff and management of
the Delaware Valley Italian-American Herald, Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo.
In closing I also want to acknowledge the many non-Italian readers who are lovers of Everything Italian and may be celebrating Chanukah or Kwanzaa. We wish them Buon Hanukkah or Felice Kwanzaa! IAH