Obituary of Ralph P. Parrotta, Prof. Emeritus

Ralph P. Parrotta, Professor Emeritus, formerly of Bradford and Andover, MA died in Peabody on February 10, 2011 at the age of 91 after a lengthy illness. Professor Parrotta was born in southern Italy on May 17, 1919, son of Francesco and Maria Amata (Dardano) Parrotta. He came to America at the age of 12. As a young man, he attended English High School in Boston, then Northeastern University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also obtained advanced degrees in mathematics and engineering from Boston College and Northeastern. During WW II, he worked for the war effort as an engineer for Chance Voght Aircraft and also served in the U.S. Navy. Professor Parrotta taught mathematics and engineering sciences in the Civil Engineering Department at Merrimack College in North Andover for 39 years. In addition to teaching he was active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and was a volunteer at the Mary Immaculate Nursing Home in Lawrence. Professor Parrotta is survived by Laurelle (Baron) Parrotta, his wife of 62 years (married June 1948) and their children and their spouses, Paul Parrotta of Cambridge, Anne Parrotta-Rinaldi and Italo Rinaldi of Passignano, Italy, Marc and Nancy Parrotta of Falls Church, VA, and John and Nalini Parrotta of San Juan, PR; 5 grandchildren Aldo Rinaldi, Emile Parrotta, Emir Parrotta, Priya Parrotta and Joseph Parrotta; a sister and her husband, Rosemarie and John Pasquale of Andover; a brother and his wife, Frank and Annette Dardano of Somerville, and many nieces and nephews. His funeral will be held on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 8:45 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Adelaide Church, 708 Lowell St., Peabody. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Sunday, February 13, 2011 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. The family has requested that memorial contributions in Professor Parrotta’s name be made to the Diocese of Helena, Guatemala Mission, P.O. Box 1729, Helena, MT 59624. Burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.