Alex “Al” Ravage, 96; Great Grandfather to 16, Former Owner of The Wine Shop on Post Road

Alex (Al) Ravage was a youthful 96 years old when he passed away peacefully, on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, at The Residence at Westport, where he resided since this past April. Except for the past few months, and some time in Fairfield, Al lived most of his life in Bridgeport, including the past 21 years.
Al was born Alexander Jacob Ravitz on May 12, 1925, to parents Louis and Lena Ravitz. After a variety of different jobs, Louis and Lena opened the Star Market on Wood Avenue in Bridgeport, where Al, his older brother Phillip and his parents lived in an apartment behind the store. Al helped his parents in the store, often delivering groceries to their customers by bicycle.

Before graduating from Bassick High School in 1942, Al met his future, loving wife Estelle Gladstein, to whom he would be happily married for 72 years, from 1945 to 2017, when she passed away at age 92. Before they married, immediately following high school, Al enrolled in the United States Army at the height of World War II. Fortunately for his entire future family, Al was honorably discharged before having to risk his life in active combat.

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Al and Estelle had three children. Bruce was born one year after they married. A second son Stephen was born three years later, and their daughter Shari followed another three years after Stephen. Al was a devoted son to his parents and the finest father, grandfather and great grandfather anyone could ever have had. Al and Estelle remained very close with their children and their children's families throughout their entire lives.

In their early years of marriage, Al was a salesman, primarily for various automobile agencies, and later as a manager of a few of them. By the time the children were more grown, and had their own children, Al and Estelle owned and operated The Wine Shop in Westport, during which time the entire family became quite educated about fine wine, a tradition that has continued to this day! After selling the wine shop, Al and Estelle returned to Al's roots, opening The Finer Things, an American crafts gallery, in the store adjoining the very place where he had first lived for so many years with his parents, the former Star Market.

When Al and Estelle first opened the Finer Things, they imagined that it might be something they would do for just five years and then retire. More than 30 years later, the business was still drawing loyal customers, who would often use the excuse of needing to buy a beautiful piece of jewelry, or some other finely crafted item, just to spend time "schmoozing" with Al and Estelle, who were so loved by everyone who came to know them, sharing personal stories and often seeking their sage advice. Until just three years ago, at a spry 93 years old, Al continued to work in the store, even after Estelle was no longer there, until it closed in 2018.

When Al was still physically able, he enjoyed playing golf and bowling. He was an avid reader and was an expert pinochle player; in fact, he often said the only pinochle player better than him was his mother! Al also loved sports; he was an ardent New York Giants fan and a diehard Boston Red Sox fan. One of the sports highlights of his life as a fan was when the Red Sox won the World Series for the first time in his lifetime, in 2004, when Al was 79 years old.

Al, and his wife Estelle, were also deeply involved in their son Bruce's charter school in Bridgeport; they were very influential in helping him found the school in 2005 and supported him ever since then to provide viable, quality educational opportunities for under-served youth in the local community. The contributions made to Park City Prep when Estelle died were used to enhance scholarships for deserving students to attend selective, private high schools, something Al would have wanted, as well.

In the past year, especially in the past few months, Al was less directly involved in the affairs of the school, and less able to do the things he was accustomed to doing, as his medical conditions began to limit him physically; nevertheless, whenever you would ask Al how he was doing, he would always reply, "I'm fine. I feel good!" Even if he did not feel entirely well, he would never admit that to anyone else because that is who Al was - a positive person, one who never complained, always had a smile on his face, and always looked on the bright side of things. Al was the eternal optimist and his positive attitude about everything was an inspiration and a source of strength and hope for everyone who knew him. Whenever anyone spoke of Al, whether relatives, friends, or people just meeting him for the first time, all they could say was, "He is such a nice guy!" Even during his recent decline, in and out of stints in the hospital and rehab in the nursing home, he never stopped making the nurses, therapists and other aides laugh as he would literally joke about what he was going through, such as when asked if there was anything they could get for him, he'd reply, "how about a little Scotch?!" Each time he would be discharged from these facilities, his attendants would hug him and tell him how much they will miss him. Before he was about to leave the nursing home most recently, and return to his new residence in Westport, his physical therapist came into his room to hug him and say, "I love you, Al." That's the kind of person he was.

Al is survived by his son Bruce Ravage and his wife Malvene, his daughter Shari, his daughter-in-law Lois Ravage-Mass, whose husband Stephen, Al's second son, predeceased him. Al's grandchildren Zac Ravage, Elizabeth Ravage, Erica Wright, Brett Ravage, Lindsay Ravage, Jessica Levitt and Daniel Mass, and their loving spouses, gave Al the gift of 16 great-grandchildren, who, lovingly knew him as "Pa". In his final weeks and final days, Al was blessed to spend quality time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who brought smiles to his face, even when he could no longer carry on an actual conversation.

On the headstone for Estelle (and now Al), it reads, "…a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." Nobody has ever been loved more, or by more people, than Al Ravage; he will be missed always, but loved forever.

The private funeral, held on Thursday, August 11, 2021, at the Congregation Beth El Cemetery in Fairfield, was attended by Al's closest family and friends.
Contributions in Al's memory could be made to either of the following:
1. Park City Prep Charter School in Bridgeport - Donations, payable to Park City Prep Charter School, can be mailed directly to the school or to Bruce Ravage, or made on-line
at: www.parkcityprep.networkforgood.com
2. The Stephen H. Ravage Memorial Fund at Congregation Beth El in Fairfield