Obituary of Ralph Edward Watson Sr.

Dr. Ralph Edward Watson Sr. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1948, the son of John and Evelyn Watson. A proud graduate of St. Xavier High School, he went on to receive his B.S. in Chemistry from Xavier University and earned his M.D. from Michigan State University. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and remained in the city for several years, building a successful private internal medical practice. He committed to serving a wide range of patients in his practice, including those without health insurance. In 1988, he was recruited back to Michigan State University, where he spent 30 years as a faculty member and became a full Professor of Medicine. Ralph was a highly respected researcher in hypertension. He was awarded several grants and published a number of articles on vascular molecular biology and hypertension. He was the Director of the Michigan State University Hypertension Clinic and was elected as a Fellow of the American Society of Hypertension, one of only 151 Fellows in the United States. In addition to his scholarship, Ralph was regarded for his excellence in clinical practice. At the MSU Clinical Center, he cared for patients from all walks of life and believed everyone deserved access to excellent health care. Colleagues regarded him as a “physician’s physician” because he was trusted to be the internist for many of his peers and their families. Throughout his career, he also taught and mentored many medical students and residents. In 2012, he was awarded the Lifetime Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award from the MSU College of Human Medicine. Ralph was a devoted husband to Demetria for 49 years and loving father to two children, Ralph Jr. and Monifa. A lifelong Catholic, he was a proud member of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church where he enjoyed playing the piano and singing in the choir. He loved cycling and completed numerous long distance bike rides with his friends, including the annual DALMAC ride from Lansing, MI to the Mackinaw Bridge. Ralph was active in the Nu Boulé of Houston and the Alpha Chi Boulé and Forum groups in Lansing. Upon his retirement, he enjoyed hosting a supper and theater club and attending a breakfast club. He also took up oil painting and completed several portraits and landscapes. After a brief battle with cancer, Ralph passed away with his wife and daughter by his side on November 3, 2021. He is predeceased by his parents and son. In addition to his wife and daughter, he leaves to cherish his memory: his brothers, Leonard (JoAnn), Raymond (Debra); his grandchildren, Mijya, Noah, Jordan, Braylon, Khai, and Xavier; his close cousin, Brenda; and a host of relatives and friends. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. 10960 Martin Luther King Blvd, Houston, TX 77048 The Family will receive visitors begining at 10:00am and the Funeral Mass will take place at 11:00am. Family requests all attendees wear a mask at all times and observe social distancing. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dr. Watson’s honor to: The Mid Michigan Medical Society Champions of Diversity Fund at https://givingto.msu.edu/ Select “Give Now” to search for the fund and make a donation. Checks may addressed to: Michigan State University Check Memo: Mid Michigan Medical Society Champions of Diversity Fund Mailing Address: Michigan State University Advancement Spartan Way 535 Chestnut Rd Room 300 East Lansing, MI48824