Ralph
A. Mead
Slingerlands,
NY
DOB: April 6, 1906
Nominated
by: George C. Held
Organization:
Telephone Pioneers of America, Albany Life Member Club
Early
Accomplishments: Ralph A. Mead graduated from Saratoga High School (1924);
he was the winner of the medal given by the Trask family to an outstanding
senior. He graduated from Wesleyan University (1928) with a bachelor's degree in
economics. He was president of the Wesleyan student body, a member of the
Mystical Seven Senior Honorary Society, and Captain of the Cross Country Team.
He qualified for two‑mile run for the Olympics in 1928.
Family
: He was married to Altina Gervin from 1931 until her death in 1984. They
had twins - Philip, a doctor, and Barbara, a teacher. There are four
grandchildren and one greatgrandchild.
Career:
Mr. Mead worked for the Kresge Company in 1928 before he began a 38-year career
with the Telephone Company in 1929 as a New York Telephone Traffic
Superintendent. In 1932 he became a District Traffic Supervisor and in 1935,
District Traffic Superintendent for Monticello, Syracuse, Schenectady and
Albany. He was the General Personnel Supervisor from 1962 to 1968.
Volunteer
Activities/Middle Years: Mr. Mead joined Westminster Presbyterian Church in
Albany in 193 8 and has been an active member for 60 years. He has served on all
four boards of the Church: Trustees, Elders, Deacons and Stewards.
Among other responsibilities, he has also chaired a Westminster Pastoral
Nominating Committee, helped the church mission program by delivering food from
the Food Bank to Trinity Methodist Church, and was the only repeat member on the
1976 and 1998 Church Organ Committees. He has been a Church usher for the past
30 years.
Volunteer Activities/Senior Years: Mr. Mead has pleased audiences across the Capital District with his delightful piano performances. He has played piano as a volunteer for every Telephone Pioneer Luncheon for 30 years, at Westminster Presbyterian Church for 20 years, and regularly at Beverwyck (where he now resides). Other places where he has played include Salvation Army Benefit and Fashion Show, Senior Quarters at Wellspring, and St. Thomas Catholic and Methodist Churches in Delmar. For 25 years he was the librarian and general manager of the Delmar Community Orchestra and president for a number of years. As a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, Mr. Mead has participated as a caller of 12 people in the Pioneer Fellowship plan for over 10 years. He arranges trips in cars in the Fall to church dinners and in the Summer to the Mac- Haydn Theatre in Chatham for eight friends.