Ralph J. Hersey Jr.

Born on Jan. 4, 1937, Ralph J. Hersey Jr. died in his home on Nov. 26, 2013 at the age of 76 after a 22-month battle against intestinal cancers.

He was born and raised in Martinez, Calif. and moved to Livermore in 1962 to work at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and raise his family.

His formal education was in the field of electronics, though his lifelong interests extended far beyond in the areas of science, mathematics, engineering, woodworking, automotive and all things computer related. He was employed by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for his entire working life that spanned just over 40 years. As a younger man, he enjoyed backpacking, hiking and camping and was always tinkering away on numerous projects around his home. Later in life, he enjoyed travel, photography, genealogy, still tinkered away on numerous projects and most of all, family gatherings.

Hersey is survived by his loving wife Irene Fagundes Hersey; sister Laura Helen Hersey of Los Osos, Calif.; daughters Karen Hamera (Stephen) of Dixon, Calif., Jeanne Hersey of Livermore and Cindy Micheli (Frank) of Livermore, and son Tim Fagundes (Kelly), also of Livermore; grandsons Joseph Hamera of Detroit, Mich., Justin Micheli of Pomona, Calif., Peter R. Hamera of Chico, Calif. and Shane Micheli of Livermore and granddaughter, Ashley Fagundes of Livermore.

The many unfinished, half-tinkered projects he leaves behind are cherished as part of a lifetime of happy memories. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph James Hersey Sr. and Helen Raddon Hersey, his first wife Kay Warren Hersey and son-in-law Gerald Bell.

He requested no formal services but that family and friends make a toast to his memory with a double scotch on the rocks. He donated his body to UCSF Medical Research in hopes that medical science might someday come closer to finding better treatments and perhaps a cure for others afflicted with this rare genetic form of cancer.

Donations can be made in his memory to Hope Hospice, 6377 Clark Ave., Suite 100, Dublin, whose supportive, compassionate and excellent care were greatly appreciated by Hersey and his family throughout this difficult time.