Ralph S. Zychowicz, 83, a grocer and meat cutter who owned stores in Toledo and Maumee and who was a leader in community organizations, died of congestive heart failure yesterday in his South Toledo home.

He retired in 1991 from the Sausage Factory, which he bought in the late 1970s. In the 1960s and 1970s, he and his brother Eugene owned Zedlitz Meats on Dorr Street in Toledo. The brothers also were partners in Stanley's 5-Star Market from 1956 to 1972, when Eugene became sole owner.

His longest affiliation was with Zychowicz Bros. Grocery and Meats, at Elm and Dexter streets, which his father, Joseph, founded in 1923.

Mr. Zychowicz worked in the store from childhood, and he and his brother took over in 1946.

"They were both very talented in cooking and food preparation," said Mary Chris Skeldon, who is Ralph's daughter.

Mr. Zychowicz and his businesses through the years supplied restaurants and stores with sausage of all varieties, including Hungarian hot dogs for Tony Packo's Cafe for about 15 years.

"He was a genius in sausage making," his daughter said. His brother held an interest in the Zychowicz Bros. store until 1972. The business closed in the early 1980s.

"He had specialty products that couldn't be found anywhere else, and people would drive from far away to get his products, as they continue to do at Stanley's," his daughter said.

Mr. Zychowicz was a founder of the Lagrange Businessmen's Association and what became the Chester Zablocki Senior Center on Lagrange Street.

He was a former member of the city's Board of Community Relations and was courageous in his support of the civil rights movement, his daughter said.

"He held in high regard respect for others," his daughter said. "He was taught that by his parents, and he believed it. He was very passionate about that at a time when many people didn't understand. He really was ahead of his time."

Mr. Zychowicz grew up in North Toledo. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps at 15 and worked on projects in Utah. "He was a man of service to others," said his daughter, who is assistant clerk of Toledo City Council.

Mr. Zychowicz was a graduate of Woodward High School and was an offensive guard on the football team. He played football at the University of Toledo, but a knee injury ended his career there.

He was an Army veteran of World War II and served in North Africa and Italy.

His soups - he called his chicken noodle "Polish penicillin" - were prized by family and friends. He made gallons at a time, which he delivered to his children and neighbors.

"He was a lot of fun, and he loved being a grandfather," his daughter said. "He couldn't get enough of his grandchildren."

He was a former member of St. Catherine of Siena Church and St. Hedwig Church.

Surviving are his wife, Sophie, whom he married June 4, 1947; sons, Ralph and Michael; daughters, Mary Chris Skeldon and Carol DuPuis; 11 grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters.

The body will be in the Sujkowski Funeral Home Northpointe after 2 p.m. Sunday, with a recitation of the Rosary at 6 p.m., military services at

6:30 p.m., and a Scripture service at 7 p.m. in the mortuary. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Church, of which he was a member. The family suggests tributes to St. Francis de Sales High School; Notre Dame Academy, or St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Church.

First Published June 2, 2006, 9:33 a.m.