Ralph Edward Jensen, 74, of Kyle, Texas, formerly of Newtown, died peacefully September 10, with family at his side, at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston. He fought a courageous battle with multiple myeloma for the past five years. Mr Jensen was born in Bridgeport, and was the son of the late Mabel and Aksel Jensen.

He attended local schools and Mount Herman School in Massachusetts. He attended Colby College and received his bachelor’s degree in finance, in Florida. He served three years with the Army Security Agency in West Germany.

As a young boy, he enjoyed playing ball at the SAC Club in Sandy Hook, and he also learned to play golf at the Newtown Country Club, which was his lifelong passion. He was an Explorer scout with the Rev Paul Cullens Scout troop and enjoyed camping trips to Canada.

As an adult, Mr Jensen enjoyed saltwater fishing, showing his American Saddlebred horses, and golf.

Mr Jensen began his banking career at Newtown Savings Bank (NSB) in March 1963. In 1965, he was named manager of NSB’s Bethel office. From there, he went on to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he served for 7½ years as executive vice president of United Federal Savings and Loan Association. His last position was as president of Merchants Savings Bank in Manchester, N.H., which later became Numerica Savings Bank.

He was well respected in the communities where he worked and was named 1987 Manchester Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. Mr Jensen was described as “steady, well respected, respectful, quiet, and unpretentious and a self-confident man.” He served as chairman of the board at Elliot Hospital, and also the Derryfield School, in Manchester, N.H., as well as guiding many other organizations.

Mr Jensen leaves his wife Margaret Carroll Jensen; daughter Lisal; son Scott, and his wife Cyndie; grandson Aksel of Austin, Texas; as well as his sister-in-law, Eileen Jensen of Newtown; and many nieces and nephews. His brother Fred predeceased him. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

A family service will take place October 10 at the Newtown Congregational Church, at 3 pm. His remains will be taken to the ocean’s shore in Maine, where he lived before moving to Texas last year.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the International Myeloma Foundation, 12650 Riverside Drive, Suite 206, North Hollywood CA 91607 or at www.myeloma.org.