Overview
We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our wonderful Seattle partner and friend, Ralph Hua, who departed this life peacefully on November 14, 2024, after a two-year battle with ALS. Ralph was an incredibly hardworking and talented immigration lawyer who was adored by colleagues and clients. Much more, he was a devoted father and husband.
Ralph was born in Wuxi, China in 1982. While attending college at Nanjing University, he told an American student studying abroad, Caitlin Ross, about his dream of practicing law in the U.S. Ralph then made his way and attended law school in Seattle, where the Ross family took him in as though he was a son. He graduated in 2009 and passed the bar on his first try, even though English was his second language.
He began his career in immigration law at other firms before joining Fisher Phillips in 2018. He was elected partner in 2021. Ralph was a scholar and his knowledge of the nuances of immigration law was extraordinary. He was fearless in his legal arguments when advocating for clients in petitions and litigation. Others looked upon him to be the source of legal knowledge that would be critical to their success. He was always first to provide information and the last to take credit.
A true believer in freedom and democracy, Ralph relished the opportunity to help others achieve their American dreams, including through his work as a volunteer immigration attorney at Seattle’s Neighborhood Law Clinic.
He shared his love of hiking, running, biking, traveling, photography, art, and stargazing with his family. His quest for top-notch Asian food was never-ending, as was his appetite. Until the very end, he loved looking out the windows of his family’s home on Bainbridge Island at the natural beauty that surrounded them.
Our hearts are broken at his passing but, just like Ralph kept going in the face of stunning adversity, so will we.
We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Marie Baraldi, his sons, Sawyer and Orion, and his extended family.