Raymond (Ray) M. Abruzzese, Jr, age 81, of Hockessin, DE passed away on Friday, October 18, 2024.
Ray grew up in Brooklyn, NY. After completing Catholic elementary school, he attended historic Erasmus High School. After graduation one of his first fulltime positions was in a Wall Street bank. There, he received several promotions and was invited to join their management training program which included attending banking classes at night. While attending these classes, he watched construction being done outside the window of the school. This fascinated him so much that he felt compelled to attend college for construction engineering. He got his degree through The City University of NYC. Throughout his professional career he worked his way up the ladder notably, gaining the respect of many people in the construction business, finally building his own company RADON from the ground up. He had an excellent reputation as a quality builder and his legacy of structures around NY, his business resided, included everything from airport buildings and schools to churches and fire stations with many more in between.
Although work was a source of pride for Ray, he always put family first. He was a loving husband to his surviving wife, Joanne, and a doting father to surviving children, Christine and Raymond III.. He enjoyed time spent with family and friends and his cocktail hours were famous for good food, drinks, and the laughter that surrounded them. He volunteered his time with the youth group at their church in NY and was Scoutmaster of troop 222 for many years as well as an eagle scout himself.
As his family circle grew to include his children’s spouses John (Christine’s husband) and Rebekah (Raymond’s wife) and grandchildren, Brianna, Zakary, Zachary and Aspen Rose, his love grew with it. He was very proud of them all. He shared his love of nature along the way and there was not a hiking path or babbling brook that did not get explored. He was adamant about leaving no trace and preserving the environment. He was an avid member of SAGES, (travel committee chairperson) and faithful member of St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church. He was a volunteer on the Coffee Run repair and replacement committee and still found time to take courses in the OSHER Lifelong Learning Program with Joanne. The accompanying photo is from one of their many class experiences. He loved to explore his surrounding area and the beauty of the Longwood and Winterthur gardens. He loved going to the theater and the arts.
Friends and family are invited to a visitation from 10:00am to 11:00 am, on Monday, October 28, 2024, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at St Mary’s of the Assumption Church. 7200 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE
A committal service will be held at All Saints Cemetery 6001 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE, directly following.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to a charity that supports the environment or hunger relief, which were two of Ray’s passions.
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