Please join us on  Saturday, June 4th, 12:30 pm for an artist's reception of Hampton resident Ralph G Fatello's, "The Art of Surfing: the photos, paintings, and graphic designs"  exhibit on display for the month of June in our Weston Gallery.  Ralph Fatello is a 1974 graduate of the Art Institute of Boston. He’s been taking surf photos and making surf movies since the 1960’s. For the first time in his life, he will show a wide selection of his photographs and paintings at an exclusive showing at The Lane Memorial Library in Hampton, NH.

Light refreshments will be provided, and the reception is open to all.

Ralph G. Fatello Biography

Ralph Fatello is a true renaissance man. Husband, father, grandfather, artist, singer, songwriter, musician, photographer, filmmaker, designer, writer, surfer, veteran, outdoorsman, coach, and consummate volunteer.

Born in Massachusetts in 1951. He was the oldest of six . 3 boys and 3 girls. His parents Gus and Eva made their modest home in Beverly MA. He lived there throughout his formative years, honing his musical and artistic talents, while taking up surfing and music in 1964.

He enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1969. He was the high shooter in his platoon in Parris Island. He served as an Infantry squad leader during the Vietnam War. He has many awards, ribbons, and medals from his time in the service in Southeast Asia. He left the Marine Corps in 1971.

After the War, he attended the Art Institute of Boston, majoring in Advertising and Design. He graduated from AIB in 1974. He worked at different Ad agencies and newspapers until 1985.

He moved to Hampton, NH in 1974 then moved to Boston in 1978.

From 1971-today, Ralph formed several original rock bands. The most popular being the VINNY Band a new wave/punk rock act that recorded 4 singles and one LP. The VINNY Band opened for several major acts including the POLICE  in 1978. They toured all over the East Coast and went out a major tour throughout Latin America in the early 80’s.The VINNY Band had several local hits on WBCN during that time. The last show they opened for the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Rat in 1984.

 In 1984 he formed another popular rock band SEMPER FI. They did a video that appeared on MTV Basement tapes, and they opened for ELP at the Meadowlands in 1986 and played in front of 25,000 people. They had number one local hits on the radio as well. They toured throughout the Caribbean in 1984.

In 1988 Ralph formed his third popular band, the blues rocking  The Nor’easters. The Easters toured and played every club on the East Coast and they opened for several  major acts including  The members of Allman Bros, Rolling Stones, Cream, and they did a mini tour with Robin Trower.

Currently, Ralph performs with a three piece blues rock band BHD (Big Handsome Daddy). And he does a solo act on the acoustic guitar as just RALPH FATELLO.

In 1985-current, Ralph started his own advertising and design studio. ADLANTIC.  A full service ad agency and design studio.  That same year, he started SURF FREE OR DIE a Surf movie production company. To date, he has 18 full length DVD documentaries on surfing. And 60+ videos posted on his SURF FREE OR DIE Vimeo account.

In 1987 Ralph married Cory Bunton. They have three children. Gabrielle 31, Max 30, and Noelle 25.

They have two dogs, Patch and Zorro. And a cat Linus. They have lived in Hampton, NH since 1990.

Ralph coached youth sports in Hampton, NH from the mid 90’s to 2005. Winning two championships along the way as the Head Coach, one in Hockey, and one in Football.

Ralph surfed every single day for one year in 2000-2001 here in New Hampshire in memory of his father Gus. He raised $33,000 for the ADA (American Diabetes Association) in his Catch a Wave For Gus campaign. He was awarded the George Washington Medal from the Freedoms Foundation for his efforts.

He worked on several building projects in Hampton. Including  the Centre School, the Marston school, the Winnacunnet High School, and the Hampton Police Department. 

He served for 5 years on the Hampton Conservation Commission. From 1995-2000.

Ralph became Commander of the American Legion POST 35 in 2001. He stepped down in 2014 after his 13th year as Commander. Ralph was instrumental in the GWOT monument at the Hampton American Legion Post. And it is the ONLY one of it’s kind in the entire country.

In April 2004, he started a weekly surf blog called Ralph’s Pic of The Week. The blog has generated over 300,000 unique weekly visitors in over 200 countries. He writes, produces, and photographs hundreds of surf related articles each week.  His popular blog ends every week with these words. “Surfing Heals All Wounds”.

In the Winter of 2008 he started another business called MEMORY LANE MOVIES. In this service he shoots, edits, and produces short mini documentaries on people’s lives and other points of interest..

The summer of 2008 he along with other volunteers  introduced The Wounded Warriors program to surfing. They were the FIRST to take members of the Wounded Warriors Project and turn them onto surfing. He has hosted the WW project every year since. He called it HIT THE BEACH. This Summer will be the 13th year HIT THE BEACH.

In May of 2010 he was named Citizen Of The Year by the Hampton Rotary for his many achievements.

The Summer of 2016 marked the 25th anniversary of his long going popular beach gathering for all the Surfers and Their families that he has called “SURF FAMILY ROBINSON”. He has since retired.

In July of 2010 he started a second fund raising effort using surfing as a vehicle to raise money and awareness to cancer. In memory of a little 5 year old local girl Molly Rowlee. He’s called it “Catch a wave For Molly”. His beloved mother Eva lost her battle to cancer in 2007.  He surfed 365 consecutive days. And ended on July 26th, 2011.

In addition to his mother and Molly, a cousin, aunts and uncles, who passed away from cancer. He lost his sister Evamarie in November of 2015. He also lost his best friend Joe Somogyi back in 1978 to cancer. He has written a daily blog as well to document this last undertaking.  www.catchawaveformolly.com  it ended July 26, 2011.

He surfed with no wetsuit in the Penguin Plunge for the New Hampshire Special Olympics in February 6, 2011. He also helps out each summer with the SURFING WITH SMILES program sponsored by CINNAMON RAINBOWS Surf Company. SWS is a program that introduces children and young adults with Autism to surfing.

Ralph is a Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, The DAV,  The Third Marine Division Association, and he is a Charter Member of the Beverly Vietnam Veterans Post Number 1.

He was a past member of The Hampton Rotary club. 

Ralph has surfed around the world. Including: both the East Coast and the West Coast. He’s surfed through Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, and the Hawaiian Islands. He was one of the three American pioneers who first surfed in Nova Scotia in 1971. He’s discovered breaks all over New England and beyond.

Ralph and his wife Cory (John Hancock manager/REAgent) have three adult children, four grandchildren, 2 dogs, and one cat, and lives in Hampton, New Hampshire