Ralph Naples, co-owner of Golden Dawn, dies at 96

By Sarah Lehr

slehr@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Ralph Naples, co-owner of an iconic Youngstown eatery, died Monday. He was 96.

Ralph Naples and his brother, Carmen, inherited the Golden Dawn restaurant from their Italian-American parents.

Carmen died in August 2015 at 94.

Phillip Naples, one of Ralph’s nine children, described his father as “a pillar of the community.”

The Golden Dawn, a restaurant and bar specializing in hearty Italian food, opened in 1934 during the height of the Great Depression. It moved to its current Logan Avenue location on the North Side in 1945.

Since its inception, the restaurant has drawn a loyal crowd ranging from sports fans to families after Sunday Mass to celebrities and politicians visiting from out of town.

The Golden Dawn, which boasts many popular dishes, including pizza and jumbo steak, is known for its wood-paneled walls and timeless atmosphere. There are no credit- or debit-card machines, and the servers wear white button-down shirts with black ties.

Jerry McNally, a former Youngstown city councilman and longtime friend of both Naples brothers’, said he used to spend election nights at the Golden Dawn.

“He was like a father to me,” McNally said of Ralph Naples.

Ralph, a grandparent and great-grandparent, was, above all, a family man, and he strove to keep his restaurant family-friendly.

“If you swore once, you got a warning,” McNally said. “The second time, they kicked you out.”

Ralph, McNally said, abided by a strict code of service to his community, his church and his country.

“He played by the rules,” McNally said. “His passing is the end of an era.”

Calling hours will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Columba Cathedral, 159 West Rayen Ave.