Ralph N. Manuel ’58
Ralph N. Manuel ’58, Ph.D., former dean of the College, died in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on November 15, 2024, after a serious fall a few days earlier. Ralph grew up in Brunswick, Maryland, and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta, Sphinx, the Interfraternity Council, and the Navy ROTC. His childhood dream of playing baseball for the Detroit Tigers was not to be, but he did play varsity ball at Dartmouth. Ralph majored in economics and completed one year at Tuck. Later, he earned a master’s in education at Boston University and a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois. After completing his Navy commitment in Honolulu and London, he returned to work in the Dartmouth admissions office. Through the following 20 years he was also dean of freshmen, then dean of the College. In 1982 Ralph moved his family to Culver, Indiana, to lead Culver Academies for 17 years before retiring in Hanover in 1999 to concentrate on his fly-fishing. Ralph was active with the class, serving as newsletter editor, class secretary, class president, and Alumni Fund volunteer. Dartmouth recognized him with an honorary degree in 2008. Ralph is survived by his wife, Sally, and four sons, including Bradley ’93.
