Ralph M. Bahna, 71; Corporate Executive, Priceline Chairman

Ralph M. Bahna, a Stamford resident and corporate executive, died Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, with his family by his side. He was 71.

Born in Grand Rapids, MI on Aug. 23, 1942 he was the son of the late Ralph and Frieda Mushro Bahna.

Mr. Bahna was the founder and longtime Chairman of the Club Quarters business hotel chain. He was a founding investor and the longtime Chairman of Priceline.com; he was the CEO of Cunard Lines, USA; and later Chairman for almost a decade of Cunard Lines, Ltd.; and a senior marketing executive with Trans World Airlines. 

In both his business and private life, Ralph combined integrity and personal modesty with constant drive and passionate commitment to both public service and the public good. 

In the field of health, Ralph supported Columbia New York Presbyterian’s atrial fibrillation research and served on its heart steering committee. He was also involved in developing the Center for Integrative Medicine & Wellness at Stamford Hospital (Stamford, Connecticut). In the field of education, Ralph worked with the dean at UC Berkeley, one of his alma maters, to develop the “Innovative Leader” curriculum of the Haas School of Business. He was also a generous supporter of the University of Michigan wrestling program, where he was once a Big Ten champion for the Wolverines. 

Mr. Bahna was the husband of Dorothy Ballard Bahna. He also leaves his son, Adam Bahna and his wife Amy of Darien.

In addition to his wife and son, Adam, survivors include his daughters, Laura Lovejoy and her husband William of Larchmont, NY, and Deborah Chrabolowski and her husband John of Wilton; one sister Joanne Deeb of Bloomfield Hills, MI, and eight grandchildren, Jackson, Cole, Mason, Emery, Zachary, Tyler, Ella and Cassidy. 
 
The family will receive friends from 4 to 9 p.m., Monday, March 3, at the Hoyt Funeral Home, 199 Main St, New Canaan. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, in St. Cecilia’s Church, 1184 Newfield Ave., Stamford. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Bahna Fund for Electrophysiology/ New York- Presbyterian Fund, Inc. c/o Adele Conner, Office of Development, New York Presbyterian Hospital, 654 West 170th St., NY, NY 10032.