Raymond T. Dwyer

DWYER, RAYMOND T.
age 98, of Warwick, a longtime business teacher, coach, and nationally recognized sports official, passed away on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. He was the husband of Rose E. (Hughes) Dwyer. They were married for 69 years.
Born in the Rumford section of East Providence, a son of the late Edward M. and Mary F. (Mather) Dwyer, he lived in Warwick since 1954. He was a graduate of LaSalle Academy, where he earned varsity letters in cross country, indoor and outdoor track, served as Captain in his senior year, and was a member of the Rams 4x800 Championship Penn Relays team. He proudly wore the commemorative watch throughout his lifetime.
During a three-year tour as a U.S. Navy Seabee in World War II, he won the North Africa Low Hurdles and Long Jump Championships, and competed in the Serviceman's Olympics in Rome, Italy.
He then entered Rhode Island State College (now the University of Rhode Island), where he earned nine varsity letters in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. In addition to athletics, he served as president for the Rhode Island Club, Treasurer of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, moderator of the Senior Honor Society Sachems, and Sports Editor of the Grist Yearbook.
Graduating from college with a B.S. in Accounting in 1950, he began teaching and coaching at LaSalle Academy, and then Cranston High School East from 1958 to 1984. He coached cross country and track at the high school and collegiate level for 52 years, including stints at LaSalle Academy and Cranston East, as well as Bishop Hendricken High School, Pilgrim High School, Rhode Island College, Bryant University, and Roger Williams University.
Ray served as secretary-treasurer of the Rhode Island Interscholastic Injury Fund for more than four decades. Instrumental in changing the Injury Fund's policy of covering only football injuries to also providing insurance coverage for all, he found it extremely rewarding to be involved in a program that helped prevent the families of injured athletes from suffering great financial hardship.
Ray also served as director of numerous road races in Rhode Island, including the first two Ocean State Marathons. Many RI races carry his name. A highly respected Rhode Island Track and USA Track & Field Official, he frequently officiated as a referee and head judge. He was an official starter for the National Cerebral Palsy Games in Fort Worth, Texas and the International Disabled Games.
He found the time he spent working with athletes with physical disabilities to be especially rewarding. The Special Olympics Rhode Island, the New England Wheelchair Athletic Association and the National Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association were dear to his heart.
Mr. Dwyer was included in the first class of inductees into the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Hall of Fame in 2003. He has also been inducted into the URI Hall of Fame along with about a dozen other Halls of Fame and was the recipient of many other honors, a testament to the profound impact Dwyer had on Rhode Island student-athletes of all ages and abilities for more than a half century.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters and two sons, Kathleen R. Brennan and her husband Jack, Raymond T. Dwyer, Jr. and his wife Pat, Mary F. Dwyer, and Donald E. Dwyer and his wife Lil, all of Warwick; a sister, Mildred Lanham of LaPlata, MD; twelve grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was the father of the late Danny Patrick Dwyer, and the brother of the late Edward M. Dwyer, Jr.
He was a proud father and grandfather and delighted in the successes of his children and grandchildren. He attended numerous AAU meets, baseball games, dance recitals and family celebrations.
The sport of track was Ray's life passion. All conversations with him eventually turned to track. As a young man he taught baseball to the neighborhood kids emphasizing running bases as instrumental to the game. As an elder he longed to run down the street just one more time. God speed.
Special thanks to Tom and Kathy Kenwood for their years of friendship and support bringing Ray to the monthly luncheon for track coaches and various track meets and ceremonial events. He cherished these times.
His funeral, and burial with military honors, will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the RI Interscholastic Injury Fund, c/o Kathleen Kelley, 262 Abbott Run Valley Road, Cumberland, RI 02864, or to Special Olympics RI, 370 George Washington Highway, Smithfield, RI 02917. To leave condolence messages, please visit www.barrettandcotter.com