Ralph L. Conti

Ralph L. Conti, 70 Lowellville- Ralph L. Conti, 70, of 1300 Bedford Road, died suddenly Monday morning. Mr. Conti was born March 11, 1934 in Lowellville a son of Carmen and Mary Viano- Conti. He was a life-long area resident. A 1952 graduate of Lowellville High School, Mr. Conti was accepted into the Local 87 Plumbing Apprenticeship Training Program and joined the National Guard. To compliment his plumbing skills, Mr. Conti served seven years on the National Guardâa�a��s 383rd pipe-line Engineers. His troop was responsible for building experimental pipelines to see if they worked under âa�A"real war conditionsâa�A�. He began his career at Parish Plumbing as an apprentice. In 1960 he founded Conti Plumbing and Heating now known as The Conti Corporation. In 1978 he started his second company, the Steel Valley Construction Service. Then in 1981 his vision grew again with the birth of his third company Enertech Electrical, Inc. Mr. Conti was a pioneer in the electrical industry as well as the plumbing industry. He was instrumental in helping his employees form their own Union and submitted certification from the N.L.R.B. He also developed his own Electrical Apprenticeship School that was certified in the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. He started a local and state association called I.E.C. for the electrical contractors and linked it up to the National Affiliate. Ralph Conti was an elected member of the Lowellville Board of Education for approximately 39 years and held every position on the Board as well as receiving the service and leadership awards. In 1983 he was the recipient of the Man of the Year Award in the Village of Lowellville. He was instrumental in the development of The Lowellville Park Apartments for the elderly, donated land to the Lowellville Baseball Association for a new field, and sponsored many teams. Since the beginning of his company, Mr. Conti was very active in the plumbing and heating industry. He was a long-time member of the Eastern Ohio P.H.C.C. and served as President and all chairs. He was past President and served on all committees for the Ohio State Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Contractors Association and in 1986 was the recipient of the outstanding service award from this association. He served on the Mahoning County Wet Heating Board which would direct all State work to General Contractors. He was a member of the Builderâa�a��s Association of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania and a Division Executive Committee Member. He sat on the Apprenticeship Board, was a National Member of the P.H.C.C., and a member of the I.E.C. As a member of Holy Rosary Church in Lowellville, Mr. Conti served on Church Council, The Menâa�a��s Club, and was a Eucharistic Minister. He also served on the Board and was acting president of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Mr. Conti was an avid hunter. He belonged to the local Arrowhead Club and Archeological Society. He traveled throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and some parts of Africa. Not only was he a generous man to his community, he was a loving husband and father and was adored by his grandchildren. He lived by his favorite motto âa�A"Anything is possible to a willing heartâa�A�. Besides his wife the former Celia Nolfi whom he married October 2, 1954, he leaves his mother Mary Viano Conti, four daughters, Mary (Chris) Morrone, Nicoletta (John) Wilaj, Gina (Gregory) Haren, Lisa (John) Donofrio, a sister Madeline Adduch all of Lowellville, and a sister Teresa Moro of Phoenix, Arizona, and grandchildren Ralph Morrone, Christy (Danielle) Morrone, Matthew Morrone, Ross Morrone, John Wilaj, Cathy Wilaj, Maria Wilaj, Thomas Haren, Gregory Haren, Celia Haren, Dominic Donofrio, Carmen Donofrio, and Vincent Donofrio. He was preceded in death by his father Carmen Conti. . Friends may call Wednesday from 3 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Lowellville. There will be a prayer service Thursday at 10:00 a.m. at the Funeral Home and a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Rosary Church in Lowellville. Contributions may be sent to the Ralph Conti Memorial Fund in care of The First National Bank, at 355 Robinson Road, Campbell, OH 44405 Condolences may be sent at www.beckerobits.com .

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