“There is no one who represents Macomb County politics better than Ralph.”

- Jim Fouts*, The Macomb Daily, March 25, 2004,
(*Elected Warren Mayor, November 2007.)

The Detroit News, December 1972

[ Click image to enlarge ]

“… I asked Liberato, if given a second chance at life if he would again devote his life to serving the labor ranks. I should have known the answer. ‘This has been my life. I think I’ve helped make this a better place to live. You bet I would.’ ”

Mitch Kehetian, The Macomb Daily,

Ralph Liberato: County salutes long-time labor leader, February 23, 1989.

Ralph Liberato cooking spaghetti - early 1960’s

“There are few labor causes, political candidates or charitable and veterans organizations that haven’t benefited from the famous Ralph Liberato spaghetti dinners. The tradition began in the early 1960’s when Ralph was a delegate to the Michigan Constitutional Convention and was living in a Lansing apartment. The other Con Con delegates picked him as the cook. Soon the word spread through the State Capital and Ralph began cooking for legislators and staff.

‘It just kept snowballing,’ Ralph recalls. ‘Feeding 1,000 to 2,000 people just became routine,’ Ralph adds. ‘I was now using pasta by the ton. The smallest dinners were for 200 to 300 people. The largest dinner for a Grand Rapids legislator was attended by 2,800 people. They were lined up around the block.’ ”

Detroit Labor News, March 24, 1994

Ralph Liberato and the spaghetti fundraiser mobile - home to pots, pans, utensils and supplies.

Ralph Liberato hosting a Metro Beach dance, as the Tommy James Orchestra looks on.

This is the only place in town with this type of music and this vocalist (Mike Carluccio) – just reminds you of the days back in the 40’s and 30’s - beautiful music. And if you look at everyone participating here, they’re not sitting around. They have healthy bodies and active minds.

Well, I’ve been doing it quite awhile, but along the way I’ve picked up some very good volunteers who’ve been with me many years. Without them I wouldn’t be able to operate.

- Ralph Liberato

RALPH LIBERATO STARTED AND HOSTED THE SENIOR DANCES AT METRO BEACH FROM 1994 UNTIL MARCH 2004

THE DANCES STILL RUN MOST SUNDAYS (SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY) AT METRO BEACH METROPARK IN MT. CLEMENS, MICHIGAN

L to R: Pete Mannino, John Ponican and Ralph Liberato collecting admission fees at Metro Beach.

RALPH LIBERATO STARTED AND HOSTED THE SENIOR SWING SOCIETY OF MACOMB DANCES AT FREEDOM HILL FROM THE EARLY/MID 1980’S UNTIL MARCH 2004

In July 2008, the dances changed venue to the Italian American Cultural Center in Clinton Township, Michigan (www.iacsonline.net), on the third and last Wednesday of the month.