Raymond J. Devlin

surrounded by family.

Ray was born January 10, 1927, in Albany NY to Barbara Schafer and Raymond A.

Devlin, to the great delight of his seven-year-old sister, Marion. Ray attended Our

Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church and elementary school. He graduated

from Albany Christian Brothers Academy High School in 1944 and enlisted in the

Navy in October, 1944 at the age of 17. Following his World War II service, Ray

graduated from Siena College with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

In August of that same year, 1949, he married Joan Caroline Guzzetta and settled

in Tonawanda, NY. Their daughter Catherine Rose was born in 1950, followed by

John Michael in 1954 and Michael James in 1956.

Ray had a long career in mental health administration, beginning with the local

State Department of Mental Health in Tonawanda and later Albany, NY at state

headquarters. For twenty years Ray served as administrator of the New York

State Psychiatric Institute of Columbia University where he cofounded the Research

Foundation for Mental Hygiene which remains a vibrant entity. His last

professional years were spent as an Associate Dean of Columbia University

Medical School.

Ray enjoyed traveling with family and friends to Italy, southern Spain, the South

Pacific and Africa. Never one to prefer typical tourist destinations, Ray’s

understanding of the world’s complexities and his compassionate nature were

nurtured by deep conversations in unusual places. More locally, he was a long

time member of the West Nyack Senior Club One. Ray’s sense of humor and zest

for life defined his days; his children and grandchildren have plenty of stories to

treasure and share!

Ray is preceded in death by his parents and sister, his wife (of 52 years) Joan

Caroline Guzzetta Devlin and his wife Antoinette (Toni) DeMarco Devlin. He is

forever embedded in the hearts of his wife Josephine O’Sullivan Devlin, his

daughter Catherine Devlin Crosby (Frank), his son John Devlin (Lisa) his son (Dr.)

Michael Devlin (Robert Reicher), his grandchildren Emily Crosby Kaufman

(Matthew), Brian Crosby, Andrew Crosby (Kendall), Caroline Devlin and

Jacqueline Devlin, and his great-grandchildren Charles Devlin Kaufman and

Mary-Catherine Joan Kaufman. Christine O’Sullivan Ricker (James), Timothy O’-

Sullivan (Maria) their children Brianna and Matthew Ricker, Marissa and Timothy

O’Sullivan, Christine DeMarco Gentile (Sal), Michelle DeMarco Pací and their

children also remember Ray with deep affection.

Visitation will be at Michael J.Higgins Funeral Service from 2:00-6:00 PM, Sunday,

January 5: 321 Main Street, New City, NY 10956. A Mass of Resurrection will be

held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 128 Parrott Road, West Nyack, NY

10994, at 11:30 AM, Monday, January 6.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital:

www.stjude.org or United Hospice of Rockland: www.hospiceofrockland.org.