Ralph E. Checchio, of South Plainfield, former lifelong resident of Scotch Plains, died on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
Ralph was born in Plainfield, NJ, and was a lifelong resident of Scotch Plains. He settled to South Plainfield in 2016. Ralph owned and operated Ralph Checchio Inc., a masonry and asphalt company from 1975 until his retirement in 2023. Ralph enjoyed going horseback riding at the Watchung Stables. He loved going out to dinner with family and friends any time he could.
Ralph was a member of the Italian American Club, a chairman of the Memorial Day parade committee, Chairman for a number of years of the Scotch Plains Fourth of July fireworks committee, a member of the 911 Memorial committee. Ralph was an integral part of building the Korean War Memorial, a member of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee, and the force behind the Rose Checchio Rose Garden. He was a recipient of theAmericanism award from SPF Unico and received the Volunteerism Award from the Boy Scouts of America.
Ralph was a member of the Scotch Plains Veteran banner program committee, a member of the Scotch Plains Annual Car Show committee, a member Ralph E. Checchio
and sponsor of the Memorial Day Concert committee and a sponsor of the SPF- Unico Labor Day festival held yearly at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church in Scotch Plains. He was also a member of the Scotch Plains Feed the Veterans Committee and Chairman of the Scotch Plains Construction Board of Appeals. Ralph was a Veteran of the United States Army, serving with the 27th Artillery Division during the Vietnam War. Ralph spent time in both Korea and Vietnam during the Vietnam War Crisis and was honorably discharged in 1966 as a Sgt.
Ralph is predeceased by his sister Annetta Johnson.
He is survived by his beloved partner of 36 years, Barbara Horev; and his loving children, his daughter Laurie Falk and husband Dave and their children Melissa and Jessica, and his son Guy and his children Taylor and Alex; A visitation was held on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at Bartholomew the Apostle Church, 2032 Westfield Avenue Scotch Plains.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Interment followed at Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains. Donations and contributions can be made in Ralph’s memory to Veterans Affairs.
