Born in Cincinnati, OH, Ralph grew up on Cape Cod in Truro, MA as the son of noted artist and painter, Cleveland L. Woodward and his wife Emily Crosby Woodward. Ralph was the youngest of the 3 children. His older brother, Cleveland, was 10 years older and his sister, Eloise was 6 years older. Cleveland joined the Marines and fought and died at the Battle of Saipan in June 1944. Cleve was only 24 years old … Ralph was 14 at the time. Ralph then attended South Kent Boarding School in Connecticut.
He wanted to go to Harvard, but his best friend persuaded him to go with him to Princeton. He studied the Humanities, English, History, and Philosophy. He loved Princeton and had a wonderful time but also took it very seriously, graduating Magna Cum Laude and elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society in 1951.
Ralph developed a passion for literature. After graduation, he pursued a successful career in publishing, working at GP Putnam’s, Doubleday, Alfred A. Knopf, Meredith Press and Little, Brown. Towards the end of his career, he became proprietor of his own successful business (New England Books & Arts, Consolino & Woodward). After his retirement, Ralph continued as a sales and marketing consultant to many independent American book publishers. He served on the board of the New England Booksellers Association (NEBA) and was a founder of the National Association of Independent Publishers Representatives (NAIPR).
Ralph married Betty Southgate in 1955. They met, appropriately enough, in a bookstore in Nashville, TN and raised a family; first in Wilton, CT and then in Concord, MA. They divorced in 1978. They had three children: Beth Martin, Cleveland, and Donald, two granddaughters (Steffany & Kristen Martin) and two grandsons (Christopher & John Woodward). Ralph’s older son, Cleve, sadly died in a car accident in 1986.
In 1982, Ralph married Corrine Madden Ross. The couple resided at Wayside Inn Road in Framingham, MA. They published “New England – Off The Beaten Path, A Guide to Unusual Places” for East Woods Press together. After Corrine’s passing, Ralph resided at May Anne Morse Heritage House in Framingham, MA. He became well known for his striking baritone, oral presentations and poker nights. Like his father, Ralphed loved and connected with people from all walks of life. He admired great art, fiction, classical music, the Metropolitan Opera, and John Updike. He loved using his Roku, playing chess and raccoons. He will be greatly missed by his family and a large circle of friends and admirers!
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organization that provides education and services to individuals with Profound Autism such as Ralph’s grandson, Christopher:
Nashoba Learning Group, 10 Oak Park Drive, Bedford, MA 01730