Ralph George Okenquist, of Orange, passed away on April 3, 2026

Ralph George Okenquist, of Orange, passed away on April 3, 2026, at the Cambridge Health and Rehabilitation Center in Fairfield after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 86. Ralph was born in Bristol, CT on September 25, 1939, the son of the late George and Irma (Mautner) Okenquist. He grew up in Plainville, surrounded by his cousins and playing by the Farmington River. He graduated from Plainville High School in 1957. He attended Fairfield University, receiving a bachelor's degree in finance in 1961 and later earning an MBA from the University of New Haven. After college, Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for nearly three years in Germany with the United States Postal Service, earning an honorable discharge in 1965. Ralph spent his professional career in finance and program management with Avco Lycoming (later Textron and AlliedSignal) and Chandler Evans. In retirement, he held part-time jobs with the Oak Lane Country Club and Mauro Motors, driving around Connecticut and stopping at local places for a doughnut and coffee. Ralph loved to travel, taking road trips up and down the East Coast, spending summer weeks in Lake George, NY and in Brewster on Cape Cod, and visiting spring training sites in Florida to watch his beloved New York Yankees. In 2001, after four years as Chairman of the Orange Parks and Recreation Commission, Ralph was elected to the first of 12 terms on the Orange Board of Selectmen where he served many years as Chairman of the Capital Planning Committee. In 2022, he was honored with the Living Treasure Award for years of service to the town of Orange. Ralph volunteered his time and talent at Yale University as a sports statistician, for many years with Orange Little League, and on the Finance Committee at Holy Infant Church, where he was a faithful parishioner for 50 years. He leaves his wife of almost 58 years, Mary (McKeon) Okenquist, three children Emily (Patrick) Clark of Trumbull, Michael (Meredith) Okenquist of Blue Bell, PA, and David (Christie) Okenquist of Stirling, NJ, four cherished grandchildren Abigail and Elizabeth Clark and Madeline and Noah Okenquist, two step-grandchildren Vivienne and Jake Mattia, and several cousins. He was a kind man who never had an unkind word to say about anyone. Everyone who interacted with him was uplifted by his spirit, sense of community, and good nature.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Friday, April 10, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad Street, Milford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Infant Church, 450 Race Brook Road, Orange (MEET DIRECTLY AT CHURCH). Interment and military honors will follow at Orange Center Cemetery, Orange Center Road. Donations in Ralph's memory can be made to the Parkinson's Foundation.

To leave online condolences, please visit our website at www.codywhitefuneralservice.com