Ralph Bragg

Ralph Bragg passed away February 13, 2017 in Toledo, Ohio at the age of 82. Ralph was born April 15, 1934 in Dayton, Ohio, the only child of Rev. Emerson and Helen Bragg. He spent his childhood in Hamilton, Ohio and graduated from Hamilton High School. He attended Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio, where he played varsity tennis and was co-editor of the yearbook, active in band and choir and a member of Phi Alpha Theta fraternity. He later served as president of the Otterbein Alumni Association. It was at Otterbein where Ralph met the love of his life, Ann (Brentlinger) Bragg. Ralph proposed to Ann while crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a trip with his parents to Europe and the Holy Land. He had originally intended to propose on the Eiffel Tower but was informed in Boston that he would not be able to carry the engagement ring through customs in France. Ann and Ralph were married in Boston, Massachusetts in the spring of their senior year. Following Otterbein, Ralph attended Harvard Law School where one of his classmates was current Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. After graduating from Harvard law school, Ralph accepted a position at the law firm of Spengler, Nathanson, Heyman, McCarthy & Durfee in Toledo OH where he practiced as a lawyer for over 50 years. Ralph’s practice focused on real estate law and he prepared the documents for one of the first residential condominiums in Northwest, Ohio, Belmont Villas, and one of the first marine condominiums in the State of Ohio, Anchor Point boat-a-minium. With his friend and mentor, Joe Nathanson, Ralph also helped bring cable television to Northwest Ohio through his representation of Buckeye Cablevision. He was active in the Ohio State and Toledo Bar Associations and served on the real estate section of the Board of Governors of the Ohio Bar Association. He also served as the chairman of the joint committee that created Northwest Ohio’s first standardized residential purchase contract. Ralph was very proud of having helped establish Rescue Inc., a suicide prevention hotline, with Fr. Francis Crawford. Ralph enjoyed being a member of Park Congregational Church, where he sang in the choir, was active in sports, and served as the Church Moderator. Ralph was known for his great tenor voice and he sang in several barbershop quartets including The Advocates, The Brothers-in-Law and The River City Music Company. The Advocates was a group of lawyers, including Willard Johnson, Richard Entenmann and Tom Smith (later Larry Coe) that sang annually at the Toledo Junior Bar Association Gridiron Show. Ralph, a charter member of Laurel Hills Swim and Tennis Club, was an avid tennis player until his knees decided otherwise. He also volunteered as a coach, scout leader and Indian Guide Leader (aka “Sleeping Bear”). After many enjoyable summers at Miley’s Resort at Lake Bellaire in Northern Michigan, Ralph and Ann bought a cottage at Devil’s Lake, Michigan, where Ralph was the faithful captain of the Bragg-A-Bout. Ralph and Ann spent many weekends and summers at Devil’s Lake and were happiest when they could entertain friends at their cottage. Ralph is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Ann; daughter Cathy (Steve) Leinbaugh of Rowlett, Texas; sons Michael (Sharon) Bragg of Holland, Ohio, James (Holly) Bragg of Waukee, Iowa, and John (Janet) Bragg of Perrysburg, Ohio; grandchildren Courtney (Mitch) Miller, Jeff (Heather) Leinbaugh, Cara, Matt, Lindsay, Caitlynn, Nicholas, Julia, Christopher, Jessica and Jacob; and great grandson Mason. He was preceded in death by his parents. A funeral is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on February 20, 2017 at Park Congregational Church, 1456 Harvard Blvd., Toledo OH. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on February 19, 2017 at Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 South Reynolds Road. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Ohio Living at Swan Creek for their great care of Ralph over the last three years. Memorial donations may be given to Park Congregational Church.

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Ralph Bragg

April 15, 1934 - February 13, 2017