Obituary of Raymond Radzivila

Raymond Radzivila passed away on Friday, January 26, 2018 after a valiant battle with cancer.  Ray was born and raised in Yonkers, New York on October 2, 1923.  He was extremely proud of his military service during WWII, serving in the Army in the Philippines and Okinawa with the 96th Infantry Division as a squad leader and being awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service.  He received the Purple Heart Medal after being wounded, and also earned two battle stars, two presidential unit citations, as well as the Good Conduct and Victory medals.  After the war, Ray attended and graduated from Manhattan College with a degree in Civil Engineering and was elected to the National Honorary Engineering Societies of Chi Epsilon and Tau Beta Pi.  He went to work for the New York State Department of Transportation and became Regional Design Engineer, working on the Interstate Highway System as well as numerous Poughkeepsie city arterial roadways, and during this time relocated to Poughkeepsie.  Ray was appointed Executive Director of the East Hudson Parkway Authority in 1970, serving 10 years managing the parkways in 4 counties on the east side of the Hudson River.  After, Ray joined the consulting engineering firm of Modjeski and Masters as resident engineer during the reconstruction of the west bound Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. 

In 1949, Ray married his sweetheart, Theresa Fedor, who predeceased him in 2008.  He was a devoted caregiver to her after she developed health problems in later life.  Ray was an active volunteer fireman for over 50 years with the Red Oaks Mill Fire Company.  He organized the Arlington Volunteer Firemen’s Benevolent Association and was its first President.  A member of St. Martin de Porres parish, he served as an usher at the 5:00 mass each Saturday for over 35 years and also assisted with the Math Counts program for a few years at the parish elementary school.  During the 1980’s, Ray served on the Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board, being among the first in the nation to curtail drunk driving.  He also helped out at the Bingo Program at Mt. Alvernia Retreat House in Wappingers Falls, and was always available to assist his neighbors as needs arose.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Wappingers Council, the 96th Infantry Division Deadeye Association, New York State Transportation Engineers, American Legion Post 1302, Disabled American Veterans, and Retired Public Employees Association.

Ray was a masters swimmer, winning numerous awards in the Empire State and the Senior Games.  In addition to his love for swimming, he adored his two grandsons and enjoyed frequent luncheon dates with both.  Ray is survived by them, Christopher Smith of Hartford, Ct. and and Timothy Smith of Wappingers Falls, as well as his daughter, Terri Rae Smith and son-in-law Paul.  He leaves behind a multitude of dear friends and relatives, and will be sorely missed by all. 

Calling hours will be 4pm to 8 pm on Tuesday, January 30th at the Timothy Doyle Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie New York 12603.  Funeral Services  will be held on Wednesday, January 31st at 10 a.m. at St. Martin de Porres Church, Cedar Valley Road, Poughkeepsie, NY with burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery Poughkeepsie.

If you would like to leave an online condolence please visit our website at www.doylefuneralhome.com