Dr. Ralph H. Bartram

Dr. Ralph H. Bartram, of Mansfield, CT died peacefully at home on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 after a 5-month bout with lymphoma. He was born on August 16, 1929 in New York City to Herbert and Grace Bartram and moved shortly after that to Bethel, CT, where he spent his childhood and adolescence. He joined the U.S. Navy at the age of seventeen as an electronics technician. Ralph went on to study physics at New York University and completed his Ph.D. in 1960 while working in private industry. This was a busy period in his life; in addition to work and studies, he met and married his wife, Ellen Devlin, and started a family.

In 1961, Ralph accepted a position in the Physics Department at the University of Connecticut where he taught for thirty-one years. He advanced rapidly to the rank of full professor, served in the university senate for fifteen years, and was Department Head for six years from 1986 until his retirement in 1992.

Ralph is survived by a sister, Ruth Wagner of Wheaton, Illinois; a brother, Robert Bartram of Baltimore, Maryland; a daughter, Ellen Colburn and her husband Willard of Storrs; a son, Robert Bartram and his partner Perlyn Boodhoo of Enfield and Perlyn’s daughters, Nadia Ways and Endira Smith, who Ralph considered to be honorary grandchildren.  He is also survived by four grandchildren: Christopher Colburn and his wife Renee of Mansfield; Margaret Colburn of Santa Monica, California; Cameron Colburn of Branford and Jessie Brown and her husband Jason of Collinsville. Ralph was predeceased by his wife of fifty-six years, Ellen A. Bartram.

Ralph was loving husband, father and grandfather and a kind and generous man. He had an excellent sense of humor and was a master of puns. He had a never-ending curiosity and a subsequent knowledge of practically any subject, which made conversation with him a joy. He will be sorely missed by family and friends.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic, CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to The Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee, PO Box 393, Hohenwald, TN 38462, elephant@elephants.com.

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