Obituary of Ralph Kouterick

Ralph Dale Kouterick of Endwell Ralph Dale Kouterick, 82, peacefully left this life to be rejoined with his lifelong partner Bea, on Thursday, May 21, 2009. Ralph was born on May 11, 1927 in Elmira, NY and graduated from Union-Endicott. He was drafted in his junior year and served in the Army stationed in Roswell, NM. While in the Army, he worked on the Manhattan Project as a statistian. When Ralph left the army he returned to Endicott and took a job with NYSEG and later spent 36 years with IBM in Owego as a systems engineer. Ralph was an accomplished artist. He enjoyed working with watercolors and studied under renowned artist Tony Couch. Ralph was able to bring Tony here several times to conduct seminars for local watercolor enthusiasts. His paintings have been in demand for years and those he painted for consider themselves fortunate to have one. He loved the water and spent years honing his sailing skills at Cayuga Lake. Ralph, his family and friends especially loved to camp out. He would travel all over the country with his popup camper or his Airstream looking for the perfect campsite to get away from it all and enjoy his family. He was a member of the Sports Car Club of America and could be found most weekends rallying around the countryside with his SAAB or MGB. In his later years, he was fascinated with flight and could be found with the area pilots at the Triple Cities Airport. He enjoyed flying with the pilots there and was able to arrange flights with whoever wanted to join him. Ralph was always an engaging conversationalist. He would talk your ear off if you let him. He had many stories to tell and would strike up conversations with anyone, anyplace. He was generous of his time, always willing to help anyone in need, doing anything. Ralph was a member of the American Legion, Endicott Elks, The Triple Cities Pilot Association and his favorite organization, The Kalurah Shrine in Endicott. As a Shriner, he relished the companionship of the organization. He felt especially proud of his involvement as a driver of needy children to various Shriner's Hospitals in the northeast. He will be truly missed by those he leaves behind, his daughter, Karen (Tom) Corcoran, Apalachin; his grandchildren, Kasey (Jason) Chobot, Apalachin, Collin Corcoran, Fredonia, NY, Kyle Corcoran, Apalachin, BM3 Kerry Corcoran, USN San Diego and his great-grandson, Connor Thomas Chobot. Please join the family in celebrating the life of Ralph Dale Kouterick, Thursday, May 28th, 2009 from 6-8 PM at the Kalurah Shrine, 625 Dickson St., Endicott, NY. With respect to Ralph's wishes, in lieu of flowers, he requested donations in his honor to be made to defray the rising medical costs of his granddaughter, Kasey, as she battles pancreatitis. Donations can be sent to PO Box 5888, Endicott, NY 13763. Arrangements are by the Coleman and Daniels Funeral Home, 300 East Main St., Endicott.