Date of death: 1/24/2018
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1973
Ralph Comstock Day, D.D.S., age 70, unexpectedly passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Dr. Day was born on February 19, 1947 in Bloomington, Indiana to Dr. Robert McComas Day, a Dentist and Helen Ann Schultheis Day. He was their fourth son of a family of ten children. He was raised in Vincennes, IN where he attended St. Francis Xavier ‘The Old Cathedral’ grade school. He attended St. Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, IN for middle and high school, with the intention of becoming a Catholic priest. He decided, instead, to follow in his father and grandfather’s footsteps and studied to become a dentist. He transferred to Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington, Indiana and graduated with an undergraduate degree in Zoology in 1969. He attended Indiana University School of Dentistry in Indianapolis, Indiana and received his D.D.S. degree in 1973. During this time, he met and married his sweetheart, Carol. Their first and only son, John, was born while he was in Dental School. Upon graduation, both Ralph and Carol, being natives of Indiana, decided that they wanted to get out of the cold and started on a new adventure by moving to Florida. He was employed by Dade County Public Health Department in Miami as a dentist for about a year, then moved to Gainesville, Florida where he purchased his current practice in 1974. Following the move, they had 3 more children, their oldest daughter, Jennifer, followed by twin daughters Holly and Wendy. He has been deeply rooted in the Gainesville dental community for the past 43 years. Dr. Day was passionate about being a dentist and truly loved and enjoyed his profession, so much so that he continued working until his very last day. He would always talk about, but never had any firm plans, for retirement. He is also remembered for volunteering at the Acorn Dental clinic, in Brooker, FL and as a courtesy faculty member at the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville. In addition, he was a member of the Exchange Club of Gainesville. Dr. Day had been a long-time survivor of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He was originally diagnosed with Lymphoma back in 1991. He underwent every possible treatment imaginable and was able to beat the disease. He had been in full remission since his most recent stem cell transplant back in 2006. He had such a positive outlook on life and powerful will to live that it enabled him to fight the disease. Ralph was an enthusiastic St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. He also loved watching Big 10 and SEC basketball, and Gator football, and always thought the best seat in the house was in his own home. One of his greatest joys was playing with his grandchildren; to them he was lovingly known as Papa. Ralph was a dedicated family man and his first and foremost wish was to bring joy to his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Carol Koebbe Day; his four children and six grandchildren: John Day, his wife Joann, and their sons Kevin and Anthony; Jennifer Day, her husband Saber Zayan and their daughters Nora and Sara; Holly Bisaha, her husband Michael and their daughter Lohen; and Wendy Day-Cross and her daughter, Karolyn. He is also survived by his siblings, Richard (Janet) Day, Sally Day, Lucinda Moore, Daniel (Suzanne) Day, and Christopher (Denise) Day. He is predeceased by his parents, his older brothers Robert Day and James Day, and his two younger siblings: Mary Beth Day and Francis Day (who passed in infancy). We love him and he will forever be in our hearts and his zest for life will continue on.