Ralph G. Hatt, Jr.

Ralph G. Hatt, Jr., 83, husband of Catherine G. (Galanis) Hatt, of North Street, Topsfield,  died Wednesday June 12, 2013 in the Putnam Farm Assisted Living Facility in Danvers following his long illness.

Born in Ipswich January 1, 1930 he was the son of the late Ralph G. and Gladys (Hathaway) Hatt.  Raised in Topsfield and Ipswich, he was the Vice President of his sophomore class and President of his junior and senior class, Ipswich High School Class of 1947.  For three of these years played varsity football. He continued his education at the Beverly Cooperative Trade School at United Shoe Machine where he trained as a machinist. He went on to study at Northeastern University becoming an engineer.  Mr. Hatt  proudly  served with the  U.S. Navy in Cuba  as a machinist aboard USS Yosemite. Following his honorable discharge he returned to United Shoe Machine where he was employed for the next twenty-eight years as an engineer retiring in 1987. Following retirement he went to work as a partner at Evans Industries in Topsfield also working as a mechanic at the New Meadows Golf course in Topsfield.  When not at work he enjoyed golf and swimming.

Mr. Hatt was a member of the Greek Orthodox Church in Ipswich where he served on the church council. He was a 32^nd degree Mason,  a member of the John T. Heard Lodge AF&AM in Ipswich and the Shriner’s Aleppo Temple.

In addition to his wife of sixty-one  years he is survived by a sister Joyce Woodman and her husband Leonard of Essex; a brother Paul Doucette and his wife Judy of Essex; sister-in-laws  Aphrodite Bialek, Alice Homans and Peffronia Galanis all of Ipswich and several nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces.

His funeral will be held Monday 9 am from the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, Six High St., Ipswich followed by a service at 10 am in the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, 8 Lafayette Road, Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed. Visiting hours will be Sunday 4 to 8 with a service by the John T. Heard Masonic Lodge at 7 pm. Interment with Military Honors will be held in the New Highland Cemetery, Ipswich. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in his name may be made to Shriner’s Burn Institute, 51 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114 and or  Hospice of the North Shore Greater Boston, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.