Former City Councilor Ralph J. Saulnier, 84, of New Bedford died October 4, 2018 at Our Lady's Haven.
He was the husband of Ellen J. (Israelson) Saulnier, with whom he shared 55 years of marriage.
Born in New Bedford, son of the late Joseph D. and Pauline (Strahoska) Saulnier, he lived in New Bedford all of his life.
Ralph was elected to the New Bedford City Council in the early sixties, he served as Ward Six councilor for 24 years and was a strong advocate for zoning rights and fiscal responsibility during his tenure in office. He was chosen by his peers as council president in 1968 and 1975 and served on and chaired many of the major committees while representing the people of Ward Six on the council.
He was a graduate of New Bedford High School and attended the New Bedford Textile School and Carlsbad Junior College in California.
He was employed for 35 years as a communications consultant with the New England Telephone Company, later Verizon, and six years as the Director of Communications with the City of New Bedford.
Ralph was a member of many organizations including the Marine Corps League, Disabled War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Sixth Bristol Club, Washington Club, South End Civic Association, Bell Telephone Retirees, Telephone Pioneers of America, South End Men's Republican Club, New Bedford Republican City Committee, Ward Six Republican City Committee and on the Board of the Southeastern Mass Telephone Company Credit Union.
He was a delegate to two Republican National Conventions and numerous Republican State Conventions.
Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served from 1953-1956 in both the 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions spending much of his time in Korea and abroad, then five years in the reserves.
After his retirement, Ralph and his wife Ellen spent the winters at their home in Bradenton, FL, where they enjoyed swimming, shell collecting and the warm tropical climate.
Ralph's family would like to thank the staff at Autumn Glen, Our Lady's Haven and Beacon Hospice for the excellent care that Ralph received.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Nina Saulnier of Fairhaven; a son, Joseph Douglas Saulnier, II of Lakewood, CA; a brother, Donald Saulnier of Dartmouth; a sister, Jeanne Saulnier Stellato of Englewood, FL; a brother-in-law, Alfred Carlson of Venice, FL; and a niece, Kathleen Bergeron of New Bedford.
His Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, October 9th at 11 AM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Monday, October 8th from 3-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452.