The Rev. Ralph G. Groskoph passed away peacefully and in the hope of the Resurrection on September 27th at his home on Somerset Lake in Hancock, NY.  He was 88 years old.  Born on September 15th, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY, he was the only child of Ralph and Dorothy (nee Andresen) Groskoph.

Ralph is survived by his loving wife Elizabeth (nee May) who together shared 65 years of marriage.  He is also survived by his children John (Donna) of Summit, NJ and Dr. Suzanne Maher (Jason) of Marblehead, MA and by his grandchildren Jake, Shannon and Sean Groskoph.  Ralph was preceded in death by his son Ralph Jr.

Ralph was educated at Poly Prep Country Day School and Cornell University, graduating with his bachelor’s degree in 1958.  While at Cornell, Ralph was the starting goalie on the men’s lacrosse team.  Upon graduation, Ralph was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army.  He served honorably for two and a half years with his last assignment being the commanding officer of a Nike air defense artillery battery on Vashon Island, WA.  He was discharged from the army in 1961 with the rank of 1st Lieutenant.

Ralph and Elizabeth (Liz) were married on July 18th, 1959.  After completing his military service, they returned to New York where Ralph spent 25 years as a portfolio manager and bond trader on Wall Street. 

In the early 1980’s, Ralph and Liz both felt the call to ordained ministry and began studies on nights and weekends while maintaining their secular careers and putting their own children through college. In fact, Ralph once quipped that all he had to do to get a seat on the Long Island Railroad was to begin reading his Bible.  No one wanted to sit next to him. Ralph and Liz were both ordained in the same service in the spring of 1988 in the Episcopal Diocese of New York and moved to Wellsville, NY shortly thereafter.  For nearly 15 years they served the six Episcopal churches in Allegany County NY, retiring to their long-time summer home in Hancock, NY in 2002.  In retirement Ralph worked with churches in the Binghamton and Sullivan County areas, and also served as a chaplain at the Family Foundation School in Hancock. 

Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours which will be held from 6:00 to 8:00pm on Friday, October 4th at the Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Home in Hancock, NY.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 5th at St Ann’s Episcopal Church in Afton, NY at 10:00am.  Clergy to wear white stoles.

In Lieu of flowers, donations in Ralph’s memory may be made to the Hancock Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 883, Hancock, NY 13783 or the Town of Hancock Ambulance, PO Box 773 Hancock, NY 13783.

Arrangements by Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel, Hancock.