NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – Ralph M. Precopio Sr., well-known real estate broker and singer, formerly of Lewiston and Auburn, died March 2, at St. Luke’s Hospital, New Bedford, Mass., following a brief illness.

Born in Lewiston, June 14, 1929, he was the son of the late Sam and Dominica (Cotispoti) Precopio of Italy. He was educated in Lewiston schools and was a 1948 graduate of Lewiston High School, where he was a star football player and know for his singing. He attended Riverside College in Riverside, Calif., New England Conservatory of Music, Berklee School of Music, Ricker College in New Jersey, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and the University of Maine.

In 1951, he joined the U.S. Army and was in the Korean conflict where he became a sergeant earning a Korean Service medal with two Bronze Stars, Combat Infantry Badge, United Nations Badge, Medic Badge, Foreign Service Badge, Good Conduct Badge and Weapons Badge.

After returning from the Korean War, he sang professionally throughout New England and was known for his singing at many weddings and funerals in the Lewiston/Auburn area.

In 1962, he opened Ralph M. Precopio Realty Inc., which he owned and operated until his retirement in 1992.

During his career, he became director, president and vice president of the Androscoggin Valley Board of Realtors, president of the Maine Association of Real Estate Boards, Maine chairman of the Commercial Investment Division of the National Institute of Real Estate Boards, director of the National Institute of Real Estate Boards, appointed to the National Realtors Washington Committee, member of the Maine Association of Real Estate Boards, member of National Institute of Real Estate Brokers, member of the tax review board of Auburn, served as an expert witness in superior and federal court for arson and land damage cases, and received the Downtown Development Award for Lewiston.

As a real estate broker, he did a lot of commercial development and brought many new business to the area, too many to mention, such as the first McDonald’s in Maine, put the land deal together for the Auburn K-Mart, and was active in the development of the former Peck Property, just to name a very few. He also sold hundreds of commercial properties throughout New England.

After retirement, he enjoyed boating with the Downeast Yacht Club, traveling, going to plays and cooking. He especially liked to make his pasta sauce and meatballs.

He was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, member of the Sons of Italy, past member of the Downeast Yacht Club and was active in veterans groups.

We will sadly miss his singing, cooking and companionship.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria (Lunt) Precopio; three daughters, Maria Precopio of Mattapoisett, Mass., Judy Valentine Ph.D., and her husband, Barry, and Linda Ellsworth and her husband, Bill; one son, Ralph M. Precopio Jr.; four grandchildren, Jeff Dow, Rachel (Precopio) White, Heather and Jennifer Precopio; two great-grandchildren, Connor White and Victoria White; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Tony (Rosie) Berticelli; his beloved Auntie Raphael Grant of Madison; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his mother and father; two sisters, Josephine (Berticelli) Figoli, Barbara (Precopio) Murry; four brothers, Mike Precopio, killed in the Marines during the invasion of Saipan, Johnny Berticelli, Albert Berticelli and Tony Berticelli.