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BORN
1938
DIED
2024
Raymond Waxmonsky Obituary
May 22, 1938 - August 10, 2024
Age 86, of Sun Lakes, AZ, passed away from complications of Parkinson's disease. Raymond was born in Chicago, IL, the son of Joseph and Sophia (Rabiansky) Waxmonsky. On January 28, 1967, he married Virginia T. Gaier at St. Charles Church in Chippewa Falls, WI. He is survived by his wife, son James (Maria); daughter Sonjia (Peter Pawinski); grandchildren Alex, Ava, Lucia, and Katarina; brothers Gerald and Gary (Nancy Tumavick); and in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Raymond had a long and distinguished academic career at Buffalo State University, where he was a professor in the Department of Geography and Urban Planning for 32 years, including many years serving as department chair. He helped to create an urban planning program and established its GIS lab and coursework with an NSF grant. He also served multiple terms on the College and SUNY Senate. His forte was career advisement, for which he won awards from Buffalo State and the National Academic Advising Society. In addition, he was employed for 23 years in the Army Corps of Engineers, where he mentored numerous employees, aided in the preservation of local landmarks, and spurred the development of commercial navigation across the Great Lakes. He was proud to see both his children earn advanced academic degrees. A funeral mass will be held at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, 7740 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, on September 6, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will precede the mass at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Chippewa Falls, WI, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago; to the Buffalo State Foundation/the GIS Laboratory Fund at 1300 Elmwood Ave., 511 Cleveland Hall, Buffalo, NY 14222; or for a Mass offered for Raymond at your local parish.
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Memories and Condolences
for Raymond Waxmonsky
3 Entries
Gretchen Miller
October 7, 2024
I was a student of Dr Waxmonsky in the late 1990´s at Buffalo State just before he retired. He was an excellent teacher and he was my advisor in Urban Planning. I admired and respected him.
dmm
August 30, 2024
Na zdrowie
William Wieczorek
August 27, 2024
My deepest condolences to the Waxmonsky family on the passing of Ray.
Ray was one of the brightest and most caring individuals I have had the honor of knowing in my life. He was a top-notch academician, but even more so, he was a top-notch human being.
Ray was always there to advocate for doing the right thing and helping people who needed help the most. I know this from firsthand experience as Ray had a tremendous influence on my career and my entire life. He saw things I could and should do even when I did not see them. His vision for other people's potential combined with his ability to bring that vision to fruition was Ray's superpower.
Everything in Ray's life was touched by this superpower. Thousands of students, hundreds of colleagues, Buffalo State University, Army Corps of Engineers, his friends and his family all benefited.
In the mid-1980s as a graduate student teaching in the department, Ray, a senior faculty member, befriended me which in itself is uncommon. And so began the sage advice he provided for many years, until his retirement.
I am forever grateful that Ray was in my life. And so are so many others. Ray will be missed, but his legacy will always live on.
Most sincerely,
Bill Wieczorek
CEO and President, Pacific Insitute for Research and Evaluation
Professor Emeritus Geography and Planning, Buffalo State
Director Emeritus, Center for Health and Social Research, Buffalo State
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