Ralph DiNicola, former vice president of Communications, passed away April 10, following a brief battle with cancer. He was 68. He leaves his wife, Pam, sons and daughters-in-law Nick and Kathleen, John and Valerie, daughter Laura and three grandchildren. Laura is senior Market Policy Specialist for FirstEnergy.

Ralph began his career with the company in 1978 and served as Ohio Edison’s and FirstEnergy’s chief spokesperson for many years, helping the company navigate mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and operational issues. He retired in 2009 after more than 30 years.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree in English in 1971 from The University of Notre Dame, attending on a scholarship from Roadway, where his father worked. He was a proud alumnus of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, and recently celebrated his 50^th high school reunion with his lifelong friends.

Upon his retirement, the Akron Beacon Journal published an editorial calling him “an increasingly rare breed.” In it, Editorial Page Editor Michael Douglas wrote, “What has been striking about DiNicola is his encyclopedic knowledge of the power industry, about reclosers, NOX and SOX, stranded costs, MISO and PJM….[and] reminding…about the billions spent on environmental protection and the civic role FirstEnergy plays, most notably in its support for the city schools.”

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated April 16 at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.