Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Happy Birthday Ralph! Wish you were here. So much going on and could use you right now. You were one of the best.

Family
Family

July 3, 2024

Thinking of you on your birthday.
I know you’re watching over your family right now. We need you.
Love you always.
Mom

Mom
Mom

July 2, 2024

I thought of

you today but that is nothing new.
I thought about you yesterday and days before that too.
I think of you in silence
I often speak your name
All I have are memories and your picture in a frame
Your memory is a keepsake from which I’ll never part.
God has you in His arms
I have you in my heart
Love Mom

Mom
Mom

April 20, 2024

Happy Birthday Ralph!
Love and miss you every day.
Love , Mom

Mom
Mom

July 3, 2023

I met your parents today by complete happenstance. What wonderful, kind, and humble people. We talked about you and how well your children are doing. We talked about your calling to be a Police Officer and how you gravitated towards the calling even though you had opportunities to do other things in life. Please know your legacy lives on through those you have left behind. Your parents made this Police Officer smile today, stand a little taller, walk a little prouder, and live life a lot happier. To the Tatoian family, please know you always have a family in law enforcement-the little conversations and interactions mean a lot. You all have given more to this world than most people even dream of and all of us are better for it!
Respectfully,
DR

DR
SLMPD

June 8, 2023

Your youngest son just graduated from high school last night. It was an emotional time. He was so happy. You would have beamed with pride. We all did. You should have been there.
Love and miss you.

Mom
Mom

May 22, 2023

She followed you and her dad's footsteps. Please keep her safe. Thank you for the sign.

My friend had a big birthday, so glad you brought her into my life. Feeling nostalgic for the days when the kids were little, game nights were abundant and you were here.

A friend
A friend

May 11, 2023

Thoughts of you on my mind first thing this morning. Wondering how your family is and bet your kids are getting so big. Love to your Mom and Dad and sis.... I will never forget you.

Melinda "Mindy" Henke

April 20, 2023

Thinking of you on this 18th anniversary. Time doesn't heal all wounds. It's hard to forget someone who gave us so much to remember.
Watch over us Ralph. You're in my heart forever.

Love Mom

Mary Ann Tatoian
Mom

April 20, 2023

Watch over us all but mostly her, she needs it, they need it. Miss you.

A friend

December 2, 2022

Happy 50th Birthday! Thinking of you today and wondering what our lives would be like if you were still here. You would be so proud of your kids. Little things they do and say remind me of you. The apple doesn’t fall far.
Love and miss you so much.
Mom

Mary Ann Tatoian
Mom

July 3, 2022

17 years, 17 long years since I was able to yell and wave while you had someone pulled over on 270, 17 long years since we’ve seen your smile. A lot has happened, I like to think that you’ve stayed caught up wherever you are. Miss you and love you.

Kristen
Cousin

April 20, 2022

Forever young while the rest of us grow old without you. 'Our Song' came on the radio the other day and I thought of you and how we were just 16 year old kids and were so goofy. It made me smile. Another year... But never makes the hurt any better. Much love to your family... XOXO. I didn't forget Marianne!❤️❤️


Mindy, Your punk rock girl

Friend

April 20, 2022

Your niece told her class when asked what was her dream for her future and she said that she wanted her uncle who had passed away to come back. She then went on to tell them about policemen and how her uncle was the best person ever. Her teacher was near tears.
She has never met you but she hears about you all the time. She’s 5.
You are living on in all of us Ralph.
That’s the best I can hope for.
That’s what you have brought in your short time here. Love……….
Miss you and love you.

Mom
Mom

April 19, 2022

Happy Birthday. Wish you were here. Love and miss you!

Friend

July 3, 2021

16 years ago I lost you. But I can’t say I’ve been unlucky. When you died and as I grew older so many people like Ralphie, Nick, Grandpa and Uncle Ray have been so important to me and like fathers and for that I am grateful. The friends you made are great and I have nothing but love for them and I’m doing fine. But I miss you so much and I always think what my life would be if you were still here. I always hear these stories about you and every time people tell them they always smile. So even though your gone you still make people laugh.

M.J.T
Son

April 20, 2021

It's been 16 years. The pit in my stomach is the same as it was when I found out. I was 16 years old when I met you and we drove around I tormented you with my punk rock music, but we had so much fun! We were just kids. We would talk for hours and just laugh and giggle. You were such a good and fun friend. I will never forget turning on the news that morning and just dropping to my knees and unable to breathe. I was about to give birth to my 2nd child - a son the very next day. I watched your service from the hospital and cried so hard. I feel so bad I was unable to go and pay my respect to your family. I think of them often - especially when I pass their subdivision. I hope your wife and children are well - I bet they are so big now! I pray for your family and parents often and hope they are all doing well. Miss you Ralphie XOXO

Melinda "Mindy"
Childhood Friend

April 20, 2021

Thinking of you as I always do. It’s been 16 years. Seems like yesterday. Not a day goes by I don’t look at your picture and remember when you were a bright light in all our lives.
Please watch over your family. Watch over all of us. I love you very much.

Mom
Mom

April 19, 2021

Keep us safe.

a friend
a friend

October 1, 2020

Maryann -

Thinking of you and the family today. My heart is heavy thinking about Ralphie. Much love to you all..

Mindy

Melinda Henke
friend

April 20, 2020

It's been 15 years now and it still feels like yesterday. Not a day goes by that I don't think about you. Your 3 year old niece knows who you are by your pictures. " That's mommy's brother she says, he's in Heaven" . We can't go to the memorial this year because of this virus. You wouldn't believe all the crazy stuff going on. Please watch over all of us. We all need your strength. Missing you always. I love you.

Mom
Mom

April 19, 2020

His Smile
Author Unknown

Though his smile is gone forever
and his hand I cannot touch
I still have so many memories
Of the one I loved so much.
His memory is now my keepsake
Which with I’ll never part.
God has him in His keeping
I have him in my heart.
Sadly missed, but never forgotten.


You’ve Just Walked On Ahead of Me
Author Unknown

And I’ve got to understand
You must release the ones you love
And let go of their hand.
I try and cope the best I can
But I’m missing you so much
If I could only see you
And once more feel your touch.
Yes, you’ve just walked on ahead of me
Don’t worry I’ll be fine
But now and then I swear I feel
Your hand slip into mine.

Friend

April 18, 2020

Merry Christmas. Thinking of you especially at this time of the year. It was your favorite. ( After deer season of course). We miss you and love you. Please watch over us. There's a lot going on . Love you, Mom

Mom
Mom

December 23, 2019

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! We all miss you so much. Watch over us as we go on through this life without your beautiful smile. Love you forever.

Mom
Mom

July 1, 2019

Thinking of you tonight Sir...like I often do. We wives of officers know your family's loss...and ALL who loved you, and love you still. Every time I drive that stretch of 44, I see your memorial sign and feel that spirit of your sacrifice. I remember those call-outs in the dark...his slipping out quickly and quietly so I won't be awakened...I never let on. Not the time for talk. You guys were FOCUSED. PLANNING. THINKING THROUGH EQUIPMENT. CHECKING THE BELT. Down the stairs and out. Once when an asphalt tank blew here, he was down those stairs and debris was still falling from the explosion. I think of you as you pushed into the night to be with the brothers and whatever lay ahead. I think of their pain as they heard the dispatch...and your sweet family. I thank the Lord, for friends, BackStoppers, and I thank him for the courage and dedication of you and all your brothers...and sisters. May His peace cover them all.

Judy Loyd
Roxana, Illinois

June 18, 2019