Raymond R. LaMay

MERIDEN - A truly funny and personable Raymond R. LaMay, died at home Saturday evening, Jan. 27, 2007, in the presence of family and friends after a long, courageous battle against cancer. Ray was the husband of Lois Bray LaMay, his loving wife of 35 years.
Born Oct. 1, 1942, in Meriden, Ray was the son of the late Joseph and Rita McLaughlin LaMay. A lifelong resident, Mr. LaMay attended local schools, graduating from Maloney High School, class of 1960. He was a graduate of Central Connecticut State University, class of 1975. Ray proudly served in the U.S. Air Force. Employed in manufacturing and the metal goods industry, Ray retired as sales manager from Northeast Specialty Steel Co. (NESSteel). A lifelong parishioner of St. Rose Church, he volunteered as a soccer and basketball coach for the Meriden Boys & Girls Club and was recognized as a distinguished Boys and Girls Club Alumni. He was inducted into the Boys & Girls Club Hall of Fame in 2003. Ray also was associated with the Jack Barry Little League for 15 years as a baseball coach and also served as their League President. Active in local Republican politics, Ray served on the local town committee and was an assistant registrar of voters.
Besides his wife, Lois, Ray is survived by four sons, Curtis LaMay and his wife, Danielle of Woodbridge, Jason LaMay and his wife, Lori of Rocky Hill, Kevin LaMay and Joshua LaMay, both of Meriden; three sisters, Anne Berti and husband, Silvio of Torrington, Regina Donnelly and husband, Paul of Garland, Maine and Patricia Scorel and husband, Ernest of Wallingford; a granddaughter, Elizabeth LaMay; Uncle James and Aunt Kay Valdner of New York; brothers & sisters-in-law, William and Mary Lou Gallo of Melbourne Beach, Fla., Walter and Kathleen Gumkowski of Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, Mass. and David and Alice Montanari of Newburyport, Mass.; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ray's family extends a special thank you to all his friends and associates who visited and supported Ray throughout his illness.
His military funeral will be held at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, from the Stempien Funeral Home, 450 Broad St., Meriden, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:15 a.m. at St. Laurent Church. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Stempien Funeral Home. The family requests donations in memory of Ray be made to the Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Road, Branford, CT 06405, or the Meriden Boys & Girls Club, 15 Lincoln St., Meriden, CT 06451.