Tailor, community activist.
Born at Amato, Italy on 22 June 1928, son of Domenico Cantafio (1906-2000) and Maria Cantafio, he spent the majority of his life in Winnipeg where he operated Ralph's Custom Tailors at the corner of Corydon Avenue and Wilton Street.
On 19 July 1952, he married Elvira and they subsequently had two daughters and a son. Active as a builder of the sport of soccer in Canada, he founded and was President of the Winnipeg Fury Soccer Club. He served with the Manitoba Soccer Association and the Canadian Soccer Association. In recognition of his community service, he was inducted into the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo Hunt (1992), Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (2004), and Canada Soccer Hall of Fame (?). He received a City of Winnipeg Community Service Award (1993).
He died at Winnipeg on 9 March 2026. He is commemorated by the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex in Winnipeg.
Obituary [Domenico Cantafio], Winnipeg Free Press, 1 May 2000.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 21 March 2026.
Obituary, Dignity Memorial.
“Beautiful game, beautiful life,” Winnipeg Free Press, 9 May 2026, page C1.
This page was prepared by Rick Mutton.
Page revised: 9 May 2026
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