Ralph Louis Andreano

Ralph Louis Andreano passed away on September 3rd, 2025, in his home with his loving family by his side. Ralph was born in Waterbury, CT on April 11th, 1928. He was the youngest of eight children born to parents who emigrated from Naples, Italy in 1906. Ralph’s childhood was challenging. His mother died when he was fourteen years old. After her death he made his way to Florida, where he found a job working on a commercial farm picking celery. In the offseason, he traveled with a carnival to make ends meet.

At some point during his late teen years, a chance encounter with a social worker changed the trajectory of his life. This social worker recognized Ralph’s keen intellect and eventually helped him attain his high school diploma and subsequently gain entry to Drury College in Springfield, MO. There he discovered his fascination with the complexities of economics. It was at Drury College where Ralph met the love of his life, Carol Jean Wessbecher. They married in 1955 and began their lifelong journey together.

From Drury College, Ralph & Carol made numerous stops as Ralph continued his education. A year in Oslo, Norway as a Fulbright Scholar, Washington University in St. Louis, MO for his M.A., and Northwestern University for his Ph.D.

Ralph’s professional career began in Cambridge, MA as assistant-professor at the Harvard School of Business. He then went on to Earlham College in Richmond, IN, for a professorship, and finally to UW-Madison as professor of economics from 1965-1997. In addition to a distinguished career teaching, he also worked for the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, traveling extensively to help implement health care strategies around the world. The work that he did changed the trajectory of healthcare systems across the world and his dedication and passion for his job helped millions of people's lives. He also served as Administrator for the Division of Health for the State of Wisconsin in 1976-1978.

While Ralph’s mission was the economics of health care, his passion was sports, especially baseball and golf. In 1965 he wrote a book about the declining welfare of Major League baseball, “No Joy In Mudville”. Something he was intensely concerned about. Some of his suggestions were splitting the leagues into divisions to increase regional rivalries and revenue-sharing from increasing television contracts.

Ralph was also an outstanding golfer. He played golf until the age of 94. He cherished his time at Nakoma Country Club with his many close friends. Some highlights were making two hole-in-ones and being the honorary “first to tee-off” at the start of every golf season.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents (John Andreano and Loretta Criasia), seven siblings, and his wife (Carol), in 2003. He is survived by two children, Maria (Jim) Andreano-Beirne, and Nick Andreano, and his three grandchildren, Talia & Tia Beirne and Maceo Raphael Andreano.

A special thanks to Joan VandenBrook, Kolleen and Anna from Graceful Guidance Home Care and to the staff of Agrace in-home hospice care, along with all the friends who gave up their time to help the family.

A celebration of Ralph’s life will be held on October 17th, with a visitation from 12:00-3:00 at Cress Funeral Home 3610 Speedway Dr. followed by a reception at Nakoma Country Club, 4145 Country Club Rd. from 4:00-9:00.