Long Time Healthcare Industry Leader Dies

Ralph A. Basile, founder of Basile, Inc. and Healthmark Industries Company,

Inc., died on Thursday September 20, 2001 of complications due to stomach cancer.

Ralph, the son of Italian immigrants, was born January 8, 1932 in Long

Island City, New York. He attended Long Island City High School, earned an

Associates Degree from NYU in 1952 and earned a Bachelors Degree in Business from Pace University of New York In 1958. He served in the United States

Army from 1953 to 1955.

In 1959, Ralph began his Healthcare Industry career when he joined Deknatel as a sales representative. During 10 successful years of service with Deknatel, Ralph was promoted several times, ultimately to the position of Regional Sales Manager.

In 1969, Ralph founded Basile Associates (now named Basile, Inc.) an independent sales organization providing representation for Healthcare Product Manufacturers in Michigan, Ohio and Kentucky. Over the years,

Basile, Inc. has represented many top quality Companies, including in the early years EZ-EM, Hermitage Hospital Products, Devon Industries, Labtron,

GAM, and more recently the Nellcor-Puritan Bennett division of Tyco

International, Gendron, Inc., Burton Medical, Carolina Medical Products, and

Action Products. Ralph was one of the founding members and a long time board member of the Health Industry Representative Association (HIRA).

In 1971, Ralph founded his second company, Healthmark Industries Company,

Inc. For 30 years, under Ralph's leadership and vision, Healthmark has become one of the leading providers of innovative and cost effective products that aid Healthcare Institutions meet their sterilization, decontamination, storage, distribution and security needs. Ralph was also an active member of the Health Industry Manufacturers Association (HIMA) serving on many HIMA Committees and Workgroups.

In recent years, Ralph had left the day-to-day operation of both of the

Companies he founded, Basile, Inc. and Healthmark, to his three sons. His sons continue to manage both Companies today.

Beyond his membership in Healthcare Industry groups, Ralph was a member of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Gowanie Golf Club. He was a Grosse Pointe

Rotarian, Member of the Grosse Pointe Seniors Men's Club, the Economic Club of Detroit. Ralph was also an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Puerto

Plata, Dominican Republic - the Country he adopted as a second home and a place where spearheaded many charitable works - including the installation of water purification systems at grammar schools around Puerto Plata.

Ralph is survived by wife Suzanne, sons Ralph, Mark and Steven and grandchildren Dan, Peter, Ashlynne and Lily. Arrangements were made by Verheyden Funeral Home. A memorial service was held September 24 at St. Paul's Catholic Church. His body will be cremated and interred at St. Paul's Colombarium. Memorials may be made to the Grosse Pointe Rotary Foundation.

For more information, or inquiries, please visit http://www.hmark.com