Honoring the Memory
of Those
We Love

December 24, 1930 - December 17, 2015

Saltzman, Ralph G. Pleasant Hills, formerly of Whitehall.

Whenever Ralph decided to get involved, he always jumped in with both feet. As a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church for more than 80 years, where he was baptized, he was active in almost all of the church's activities. He was a member of its bowling league and led the league and was its president for several years. For many years, he coordinated the Cloverleaf Area Food Pantry and the annual White Elephant Sale flea market at St. Elizabeth Church. He was also a member of the Retired Men's Club at the Pleasant Hills Presbyterian Church. He loved to camp and was the Wagonmaster of the South Hills Wiener Benders Camping Club in the 1960's and 70's. In recent years he was active at his new church, North Zion Lutheran. In recognition of his volunteer efforts, he received the Outstanding Volunteer in Community Service Award and was a Jefferson Award nominee. Ralph found the love of his life in his wife, Rita, to whom he was married for more than 54 years. Rita passed away in 2011. He was born in his parent's home in Carrick, moved to the Allentown neighborhood, before his family moved to Castle Shannon when he was a teenager. Ralph lived in Whitehall for more than 55 years before living in Pleasant Hills. A proud veteran, he served in Korea with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Known by his nickname, "The Iceman," Ralph worked in the Refrigeration Department at the U. S. Steel Clairton Works for 30 years until his retirement in 1985. He was a graduate of South Hills High School and Connelly Trade School. He is survived by his son Dave, his wife Janice and their children Lauren (Brent and great-granddaughter Ava), Chris and Bethany of Jefferson Hills and by his son Doug, his wife Jill and their children Allie, Nicole, Julia and Claire of Pleasant Hills. His brother, Don, lives in Washington, PA and his late brother, Bob (Alice) lived in Newark, OH. Ralph's parents were Minnie and Elmer. Ralph died on December 17th at Dave and Janice's home, where he lived for the past year. He fell last February and had various health problems since. Ralph would have been 85 on Christmas Eve. Visitation will be held at the John F. Slater Funeral Home, Inc., 412-881-4100, 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood, PA 15227, from 1-4 and 6-9 p.m. on Sunday, December 20th. A funeral service will be celebrated at North Zion Lutheran Church, 5100 Brownsville Road, in Baldwin, on Monday at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the "Rita and Ralph Saltzman Scholarship Fund," payable to St. Elizabeth School, 1 Grove Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15236 or the "Ralph Saltzman Fund," payable to the Cloverleaf Area Food Pantry at the same address.