This memorial website was created in memory of our beloved son, Dr. Ernest (Rick) Toracinta, PhD. Rick was born in Willimantic, Connecticut November 8, 1965 and passed away at his home in Columbus, Ohio November 22, 2005. Rick will forever be missed, he will be loved and remembered in our hearts forever. Thank you for visiting, please take a moment to light a candle or leave a tribute for Rick. If you have photos you would like added, please email me and I will add them to his site.

This memorial was created in the memory of my son, Dr. Rick Toracinta. Rick was born in Willimantic Connecticut on November 8 1965 and passed away in his home in Columbus on November 22 2005 at the age of 40. Rick was an outstanding scientist, educator and human being. Rick was the kind of person who made the community he lived in more than just a collection of individuals, whether lending his support to others professionally, personally or spiritually he was known for his heart and generosity. Rick’s “Selfless giving support to others” endeared him to so many during his short life time.

Ernest Richard“Rick”Toracinta,Ph.D. Dr.Toracinta graduated from Nacogdoches High School in 1983 and earned a doctorate in meteorology from Texas A&M University.He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and was laid to rest at St. Joseph Cemetery in Columbus on Nov. 26. Dr. Toracinta is survived by his mother and stepfather, Alma and James Chaney of Belleville, Illinois, his father and stepmother, Ernest and Eleanor (Sam) Toracinta of Gary, Texas; and his sister, Cheryl Duksta, her husband, Mark, and their daughter, Alison, of Austin, Texas.

Rick had lived in Columbus for the past five years, working as a research scientist for the Polar Meteorology Group at The Ohio State University’s Byrd Polar Research Center where he performed numerical modeling of the meteorological conditions at the onset of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, the last major glaciation that covered most of Canada and the northern U.S. about 20,000 years ago.
Rick was a very active member in his community. He volunteered his time each Wednesday for the past several years to deliver hot meals to the elderly through the Meals-on-Wheels program. He also raised funds for programs such as the Lance Armstrong Foundation for those afflicted with cancer.
Rick was an avid cyclist, frequently riding his bike to work even on days with poor weather. There is no doubt that his biggest meteorological passion was severe weather. Rick was frequently asked to lecture to meteorology courses at OSU about thunderstorms and tornadoes. Each year he would spend his vacation guiding severe weather tours on the Great Plains for groups of less-experienced weather enthusiasts who shared his passion.
Rick was a unique person that pursued all aspects of his life with zeal and dedication. He was patient and selfless, willing to go out of his way to help others. Those of us who were colleagues of Rick’s will greatly miss him.