Raymond Joseph Piechocki

March 2, 1940 – February 23, 2019
Raymond Joseph Piechocki "Ray", resident of Savannah Georgia, formerly of Baltimore, Timonium, and Middle River Maryland, passed away suddenly on February 23, 2019 in Sarasota Florida while on vacation at the age of 78 years.
A funeral mass will be held Saturday, May 11 at 11:00 am at Christ the King Catholic Church at 1102 Hart Road in Towson. A celebration of life will be held immediately following the service in "The Stable" hall on church grounds.
Ray was born March 2, 1940 in Baltimore City, son of Joseph "Pat" Piechocki (retired Baltimore Deputy Fire Chief) and Theresa Jeskiewicz Piechocki of Chesterfield Avenue, attended elementary school at Shrine of Little Flower School then moved to Glenarm Avenue attending St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church school, going on to graduate in 1958 from the Mergenthaler Vocational High School.
He received an Honorable Discharge from the Army of the United States in 1965. Attended The John Hopkins University as an Arts & Science major. In 1978 he received his architectural license from Maryland.
As a Senior Associate for Gaudreau, Inc. he worked on a new Kodiak bear exhibit for the Baltimore Zoo. In 1968 he went with Mark Beck Associates, as Vice President of Production and Construction Services. Then went onto McCormick Construction as Vice President Sales and Marketing and Riparius Construction Inc. as Vice President of Business Development.
He worked as Special Projects Manager at MICA (Maryland Institute College of Art) for 20 years. Acknowledged by Baltimore Heritage by receiving a Historic Preservation Award for the restoration of the Mount Royal Station Building. The last project he work on opened in 2008, called The Gateway a mixed use student residence facility. Through the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts he worked on remodeling studios on the 5th and 10th floors of the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower.
Ray devoted his free time to volunteering with various organizations over his lifetime; St. Mary's Seminary School-Building Committee, Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore -Building Committee, Kennedy Krieger Institute- Board Member/Chairman of KinderGala, Norbel School -Board Member, Baltimore Museum of Industry, Baltimore Yacht Club- Sail Captain/Secretary, Pinevalley-Valleywood Community Association, Jaycees Cockeysville-Timonium and Baltimore Operation Sail-Board of Directors President. Operation Sail Baltimore was founded in 1975 by Mayor William Donald Schaefer to prepare the city to participate in Operation Sail 1976, a centerpiece of the U.S. Bicentennial celebration. In 1980 Ray accepted the opportunity and adventure to sail on the Pride of Baltimore Clipper schooner before it was lost at sea May 14, 1986.
He also held positions in Baltimore County Office of the County Executive as Baltimore County Economic Development Commission, Baltimore County Shared Space Council and Baltimore County Private Industry Council in the years of 1979 - 1990. Followed by being the President of Baltimore County Forward in 1991, Citizens for Responsible Tax and Land Use Policy as President.
In October of 2008, moved to Savannah Georgia, where he continued to volunteer his time to the St. Patrick's Day Parade as a Committee Member and The Knights of Columbus Council, through St Peter's Catholic Church of Savannah. In these later years, he was known for writing letters to the Editor and being published in the Opinion Page of the Savannah paper.
He was known for wearing different hats; a Hawaiian printed top hat, a hard hat, ball caps from everyplace he visited, a chef's hat, even a Russian ushanka. Also figuratively wore different hats throughout his life as a; boater, carpenter, fisherman, crabber, hunter, designer, writer, leader, and car enthusiast owning Ford T-Bucket, 1946 and 1948 Sedan and 1956 Buick. He touched so many people in all that he was involved with. Laughing, smiling, eating good food, traveling, being with friends and family is what brought him joy.
He is survived by his significant other Pam Rurka, two daughters Karen Williams of Acworth GA and Alicia Banghart Arnold MD, 3 grandchildren Zachary, Zoey, and Sarah, Brother David F. Peck of Dallas Texas, two nephews Tom and Brian Peck and former wife Marge (Chipman) Piechocki.
Cheers!