Ralph Hua died on November 14, 2024, at age 42, after a two-year battle with ALS. He went peacefully at home on Bainbridge Island, surrounded by his loving family. He was a dedicated father, husband and immigration attorney — a piece of gold who couldn’t stay.
Ralph, formerly known as Xia, was born in Wuxi, China on August 26, 1982. It was the end of the Cultural Revolution: He remembers growing up in a tiny, factory-owned apartment without heat, hot water or a private bathroom. As a teenager, the Chinese police hung Ralph’s dog. That was the moment he decided to leave; to move somewhere he could vote, somewhere he wouldn’t have to worry about the government knocking at his door.
Ralph attended college at Nanjing University, majoring in English. Already an excellent English speaker, he participated in a language exchange with some American study abroad students. He told one of the students, Caitlin, about his dream of practicing law in the U.S. Her parents, Katie and Dave Ross, happened to be attorneys in Seattle. They would become his greatest mentors.
Ralph matriculated at Seattle University School of Law in 2006. The Ross’ took Ralph in as though he were their son, inviting him over for holidays and football games. After graduating in 2009, Ralph passed the bar exam on his first try, despite English being his second language. The following year, he earned a master’s degree in international law from American University Washington College of Law.
In 2010, Ralph began his career in immigration law at Gibbs Houston Pauw. In 2015, he moved to MacDonald Hoague & Bayless. And in 2018, he started working at Fisher Phillips, where he became a partner in 2021. For several years, he also served as a volunteer immigration attorney at Seattle’s Neighborhood Law Clinic. As a true believer in freedom and democracy, Ralph relished the opportunity to help others achieve their American dreams.
In 2011, Ralph went on a date with a woman named Marie. They got sushi and ice cream, and then walked 1.5 miles back to her apartment. He quickly fell in love with her — and her Golden Retriever. They married in 2013 at Parsons Gardens in Seattle.
Ralph and Marie soon started their family: First came a Great Pyrenees, Bruce, who barely fit into their Toyota Corolla. Then came their sons Sawyer and Orion Neil (so named for Ralph’s love of space and the astronauts who’ve explored it). Ralph adored his sons, and often took them on hikes, bike rides, and visits to local parks. As his ALS progressed, they enjoyed watching movies together, especially those from Studio Ghibli.
Ralph was one of those people who was good at everything. He loved hiking, running, biking, traveling and stargazing. He was an avid photographer who enjoyed capturing the beauty of national parks. He was an excellent artist; if his sons wanted a drawing, they knew where to go. He was always on the hunt for good Asian food, and amazed people with his ability to eat… and eat… and eat.
In 2021, the family moved to Bainbridge Island, which had been a long-time goal of Ralph’s. After growing up in a city of 5 million, he’d longed for a quiet life among the tall trees. And it suited him: ‘Til the very end, he loved looking out the windows at the natural beauty that surrounded them.
Throughout his life, Ralph was always one step ahead of everyone else: On hikes, no one could keep up with him. So, though our hearts are broken at his passing, it is almost fitting that he is forging this path for the rest of us, just like he always has. And just like Ralph kept going in the face of stunning adversity, we will, too.
We will figure out how to put together Ikea furniture without him. We will take spontaneous trips to Mt. Rainier. We will slurp our noodles even when others stare. We won’t bother to match our socks, because we have better ways to spend our precious time. And we will stare at the stars whenever we can, constantly imagining a brighter future.
Ralph is survived by his parents, Yaping Zhou and Yixing Hua, of Wuxi, China; his wife, Marie Baraldi, and sons, Sawyer and Orion, of Bainbridge Island; his American parents, Katie and Dave Ross; and many colleagues and friends.
A private ceremony will be held at Kane Cemetery on Bainbridge Island.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Ralph can be made to the Battle Point Astronomical Association. BPAA is a non-profit amateur astronomy organization located on Bainbridge Island that is dedicated to providing opportunities for curious children, students, and adults to observe, discover, and share the wonders of the Universe.
Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island.
