Raymond DeLuca
Raymond (“Ray”) Francis DeLuca, 94, a longtime Stamford resident, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2022. Ray was born in Bridgeport, CT on October 13, 1928, to the late Alfred and Palmira Fiorello DeLuca.
Ray earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Connecticut. Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Army National Guard, where he served as a commissioned officer for 20 years, and retired with the rank of Captain. Ray was the director of design engineering at Georgia-Pacific for more than 30 years, and secured over 30 patents during that time.
Ray remained very active throughout his retirement. He was a gifted artist, and his love of art and drawing led him to teach art classes at the Stamford Senior Center until 2019. Ray poured his talent and love for family into many beautiful paintings and murals he created for his family and friends over the years – which they will cherish forever.
In addition to serving on the board of Stamford Parks & Recreation, Ray gladly volunteered his time and cooking skills at his children’s schools and Our Lady Star of the Sea Church – where he helped run the carnival for several years. What Ray enjoyed most was spending time with his beloved family – especially his five grandchildren.
Ray is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Spoto DeLuca; his children – Patricia DeLuca, Susan DeLuca, Lisa Morris (John), and Mark DeLuca (Betse); his grandchildren – Maximus DeLuca, Luke Morris, Jake DeLuca, Ava DeLuca, and Mia DeLuca. Ray’s sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive him.
In addition to his parents, Ray was predeceased by his brother, Freddie DeLuca; his in-laws, Vera and Paul Spoto, and his brother-in-law, Stanley Tyska.
A funeral procession will leave the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford, CT at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2022. It will proceed to Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C. Church, 1200 Shippan Avenue, Stamford, CT for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. Entombment will follow at St. George’s Mausoleum at Woodland Cemetery, Stamford, CT. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, from 3 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Ray’s memory to Fairfield County Hospice House, 1 Den Road, Stamford, CT 06902.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com.