Ralph J. Deleo

Ralph J. Deleo, of Finleyville, formerly of Bethel Park and Boston, MA, on Thursday, August 31, 2023, age 88, partner of Mary Lou Bonuito, father of Joseph Deleo, Donna Calascibetta (Frank), Ralph Deleo, Jr., and the late Lisa Deleo, also 5 grandchildren. Ralph was in the U.S. Army Reserves & was a professional hockey player who played for the Boston Bruins. A Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 9, 2023 in St. Joan of Arc Church.  Arrangements are being handled privately by the David J. Henney Funeral Home, Library. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a children's hospital of your choice. www.davidhenneyfuneralhome.com 

Ralph DeLeo an East Boston success story.

He graduated from Mechanic Arts high School in the city of Boston High School league in 1953. That year in a high school hockey game, Ralph accomplished a Fete that has never been tied or broken by Wayne Gretsky, Bobby Hull or any National Hockey league hall of fame'r. He scored 13 goals in a 30 minute hockey game of which he only played 21 minutes of the game. Ralph graduated and was offered Scholarships to Colorado, Denver, B.U.B.C. Northeastern and several other major colleges. He decided to try the pro's.

He was sent to Jr. A at Kingston, Canada and had an exceptional season and was invited to training camp by Bruins General Manager Lynn Patrick. After camp, Coach Milt Schmidt said that Ralph was the greatest skater that he had ever seen from the USA. The Bruins then sent Ralph to Baltimore for the season where he was second in scoring in the league. The Bruins then promoted him to Hershey where he was doing very well until he was injured and upon his return he was sent to Baltimore. The next season, he was sent to Charleston where he scored well and was advanced the following season to New Haven in the Eastern League where he was runner up to Art Dorrington who incidentally had been in Boston to play hockey against the Boston Olympics of the Eastern Hockey League and Art was invited by a friend of Ralph's to see Ralph play hockey and it happened to be on the day Ralph scored his 13 goals. Ralph then decided to try out for the Olympic Team and made the team which went to Russia and played the Russian team. The American team lost the series and only scored 4 goals, all scored by Ralph DeLeo. Ralph is a recipient of the Windsor hockey trophy. Ralph then went to play for Walpole in the New England semi-pro league and was always on top or very close to the top in scoring. Ralph played on the championship Boston Typo Baseball team that played in the National finals in Ebbets Field Home of the Brooklyn Dodgers Major League Baseball Team. He also played on the Jeveli Club in Boston Park League. He is a shining example of the hidden abilities that have surfaced from the streets of our great town of East Boston and will continue to produce great athletes from East Boston.

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