RALPH & TERESA YANELLO

Honoring service. Elevating community.

Corporeal E-4 Ralph Yanello served our Nation as a United States Marine from 1959 to 1963. Today, more than six decades later, he and his wife, Teresa, continue to serve—this time through leadership, philanthropy, and a commitment to community well-being that exemplifies the very best of “Returning Good Citizens.”

After completing his military service, Ralph built a successful career as an attorney and entrepreneur, pioneering legal services that made access to justice affordable and attainable. Together, he and Teresa have spent their lives investing in initiatives that reflect their shared values of health, service, and opportunity. Their longtime dedication to fitness and whole-person wellness inspired significant philanthropic support of integrative medicine and veteran health innovations in their home community.

Ralph and Teresa’s belief in lifting others up has now extended to the Carolina Museum of the Marine. In honor of Ralph’s beloved younger brother, Col Gerald Yanello, USMC (1975-2005), they have pledged $500,000 to name The Great Hall—a sacred space where the stories, sacrifices, and legacies of Carolina Marines will be brought to life for generations to come.

Their gift, given in quiet strength and deep humility, reflects more than generosity. It honors the unbreakable bond of brothers—in life, in arms, and in service to something greater than oneself.

— Ralph & Teresa Yanello  “My brother and I chose to support this museum because of our love for the Marine Corps and for America, the greatest country on the planet.” 

Semper Fidelis to the Yanellos—true examples of enduring service, unwavering purpose, and the spirit of “Returning Good Citizens.”