Obituary: ​Ralph F. Spinnler, 78, of Branford

Information via W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home

Ralph F. Spinnler of Branford, CT, formerly of Glastonbury, CT died peacefully at his home on Saturday October 14, 2017, surrounded by his family. The youngest child of Rose and Aloysius Spinnler, Ralph was born on July 25, 1939 in Lynnbrook, New York.

A graduate of Lynnbrook High School, Ralph received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University and a Masters Degree from Rensslaer Polytechnic Institute. He earned a commission in the United States Navy through the ROTC program at Duke. Ralph married his hometown sweetheart, Cynthia Williams, and they moved to Yorktown, VA before settling in Connecticut. He joined Raymond Engineering in 1969 where he began a project to investigate the market potential and technical feasibility of a wireless transmission system for communicating data from an oil well to the surface.

A joint venture company was formed with Raymond and Elf Aquitaine and in 1972, Teleco Oilfields Services, Inc. was acquired by Sonat Inc. Ralph remained as CEO of Teleco until the company was sold to Baker Hughes in 1992. Ralph took great pride in the Teleco family. Above all he believed in the importance of hiring the best people.

After retirement, he was honored to serve on the board of APS Inc, a company started by a group of former employees. Ralph Spinnler is survived by his wife of 56 years, Cynthia Marie Williams Spinnler and their three daughters, Julie Spinnler Crager and her three children Jack, Elizabeth, and Ned; Marie Spinnler Gooding and her two sons Griffin and Grady; and Laurie Spinnler Bonner, her husband Michael Bonner and their two children Hadley and Cole. He is survived by his sister, Florence Spinnler of Boise, Idaho and by numerous nieces and nephews. Ralph was predeceased by his elder sister, Evelyn Spinnler Unger and his beloved brother Robert Spinnler.

Ralph will be remembered as a loving, kind, and generous family man. He enjoyed teaching and sharing his many passions, including tennis, golf, art, photography and skiing with his daughters, grandchildren and many close friends. Ralph had a special love and connection with the nature, and beauty of Nantucket. He treasured his family time there sailing, fishing, and teaching his daughters life lessons. A true engineer at heart, he took great pleasure in tinkering around on his work bench making potato launchers, kites, model airplanes and boats to share with his family.

Calling hours will be Tuesday October 17 from 4 to 8 PM at the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main St. Branford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at St. Therese Church in Branford at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Ralph's name may be made to a Scholarship Fund at Duke University, Pratt School of Engineering. To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Ralph Spinnler, please visit our Tribute Store.