Ralph Hesler Obituary

I miss my husband so. He was the love of my life. It´s been 10 yrs since he went to Heaven

Today, I´ll again take time to remember my friend and colleague and all the good times we had together. A gentle man of good character, it´s sad we lost him so soon. Rest In Peace, Ralph.

Another year has passed, giving us another opportunity to reflect on our relationship with a good man and good friend. I miss you Ralph and think of you often.

Ralph, Four years hasn't dimmed my sadness at your passing but this reminder brings back the many happy memories of our times together.

To Ralph's Family:

I and all of Ralph's Pledge Brothers from Psi Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (Wabash College) wish to express our sorrow at Ralph's passing. To us he will always be 20 years old and better known to all of us as "Chief". We just learned of his passing while trying to invite him to our 50th Class Reunion. We will miss him.


Charles K. Ayers

January 7. 2016
I just heard about Ralph's passing.
He was a great guy and a good friend.
I fondly remember our trips to Mexico with our families. The wine country trips were great.
My sympathy to his family.
Take care.
Nick Sauer

Dr. Hesler was a very mild-mannered and kind man. I had the pleasure of working in the same office he was in shortly before he retired. I am saddened by this news. My heart goes out to the family.

My Dad was complicated but to me he was a life saver, a world traveler and he was Chevy Chase. I waited in the doctor's lounge as a kid while he saved lives. He took us through Baja down random roads to amazing places. From deep sea fishing trips to off-road escapades, where he taught me how to drive. Every trip with Dad was an adventure. As Chevy Chase we saw Big Ben in Octillo Wells, Big Ben Dad! In Ensenada he portrayed a vato and always had a great, funky sense of humor. I miss you Dad very much, I know you are watching over us. Love you Daddy.

Visiting Ralph this last year reminiscing about former family times with Lisa, Ryan and friends, his eyes engaged and there were a few smiles. Camping trips that began in Carlsbad with the guys' stopping in for a campfire visit after work that eventually moved down the Baja; internationally themed dinners with the guys' month featuring Snow's clam chowder touted as their homemade recipe, fondue meats with sauces and chocolate strawberries; exploring the wine country with friends (Chateau Montelena Bed & Breakfast & Dana's traveling robe?); Lisa & Ryan dancing with their Dad to some of Ralph's Motown favorites.
There was one verbal response from Ralph during this visit. I shared that I had met and spent an hour chatting with Bobby Unser whom Ralph and I had seen win his 1st Indy 500 in 1968, a year before we were married. Ralph said In Mexico? Hope many of those good memories were available to him.
Ralph had a big heart and cared about his patients. I remember one evening he returned from emergency surgery having lost a patienthe needed to talk about his relationship he had had with this man and his family. I was baking German Christmas Stolen (fruited holiday yeast bread we gave as holiday gifts) and all the loaves burned. Ralph, Lisa, Ry and I fed those burned loaves to the estuary ducks. Ralph asked each following Christmas if I had baked stolen for the ducks.
Our old Chrysler Satellite Sebring was rusting, mold grew on the carpet and despite repairs the side door flew open around curves & had to be roped shut. Those who knew Ralph's love of racing and sports cars (raised in Detroit with his Dad a Chrysler executive) understood his desire for a sports carPorshe 928. Our Oceanside home had an unfinished yard, no living room furniture, an old stereo, etc. Knowing his sacrifices on the road to becoming a surgeon including two years in the service during Viet Nam, I agreed to the Porsche with the condition that after kids were in bed, we would sit in the driveway in the comfy leather seats listening to music on the Porshe's state of art stereo.
Reliving all the good that was Ralph with Lisa and Ryan has been a closure.

Dana -

Thank you so much. Dad will be missed by many. I would love to get in contact with you, please feel free to call me at 760-814-3563 or email me at [email protected] I will would love to catch up.

Love - Lisa

RIP my friend

It was a pleasure working for THE DOCTOR IN OCEANSIDE, CA

Ahh thank you everyone. Love to my Daddy up in heaven.

We were so sad to learn of this. He was a special person with a very kind heart whom we were proud to call our friend.

Jim and Dana Bernave

Thank u all for your responses. Sincerely, Christine Hesler

Ralph was a wonderful friend and neighbor who will be greatly missed.

Gerard and Jane Spahn

Ralph, you will be missed by all who knew you. My prayers are with Chris and the family. May God bring you peace and comfort.

Thanks, Ralph, for being both friend and counselor when we both joined Cassidy Medical Group back in the late 1970's. I'll cherish the image of our side-by-side offices on Vista Way where we could enjoy a laugh, or share a discovery from a patient, or wonder what the future had in store for us. You've again taken the lead, and as expected, have done it with class and dignity. What a great life you have shown us all. My thanks for sharing part of it with me.

Miss you Ralph !!

Ralph, you were one of my best friends and I miss our times together. My colleague in practice, my scuba buddy, my sailing captain and all around good guy. I know we didn't see much of each other in recent years but the good memories remained in my heart. My heartfelt condolences to Chris, Ralph's entire family and friends. Terry A Haas, M.D.

My Ralph you will be missed. Prayer for your family. Loved you to the moon and back.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest in Peace Dr. Hesler

I briefly shared office space with Dr. Hesler when I first started my practice in North County and in the revolving door nature of such an arrangement did not get to spend much time with him, but I always appreciated that his office wall, along with diplomas and awards, held a lovely framed copy of his "graduation" certificate from kindergarten!
My condolences to the family, and may you be comforted by loving memories.