Raymond, was born in Norwood, March 13, 1925, the son of James and Winifred Martin. He was the beloved husband of the late Claire (Canniff) Martin, who passed on December 5, 2008 and the loving father of the late Susan France, who passed away on January 27, 2013. He was dearly loved by his niece, Barbara Kearney and her husband Paul of Brewster, their daughter Kathleen Rocuant of Estero, FL and her children Rebecca and Ryan, and their son Paul Kearney and his children Jessica and Sarah of Plymouth, as well as several dear friends.
Ray graduated from Norwood High School with the class of 1943, where he was one of its greatest 3 sport athletes, lettering in football, ice-hockey, and his favorite sport, baseball. It was as a baseball pitcher that he made his greatest impact at Norwood High, the “School on the Hill,” where he set many records for strikeouts. His senior year culminated in a 3-2 victory over Dalton High at Fenway Park as Norwood clinched the state baseball championship. After the game, he signed with Major League Baseball’s Boston Braves and was immediately placed on the roster and pitched in his first game a week later. It was a one inning stint and he retired the side in order.
Six weeks after his Major League debut in 1943, he entered the Army Air Corps in New Hampshire until 1944 when he was sent for more training before joining General Patton's troops in the European offensive, under General Omar Bradley during WWII . Ray fought at the Battle of Remagen, which became the basis of the movie "A Bridge Too Far." "We had about 2 minutes to move across that bridge in between artillery attacks from the Germans. They said I wasn't a real fast runner but you find a second gear when someone is shooting at you,” Ray said. His unit fought all the way until they met the Russian army. The Russians were puzzled that the unit was still fighting. The war had ended days before but no official word had gotten to them.
Ray returned to professional baseball on his return from the war , pitching for Hartford in the Eastern League; Milwaukee in the American Association and Seattle in the Pacific Coast League. He finished up with Atlanta in the Southern League. He pitched a 2-1 victory in 1947 in a major league start against the Dodgers. He went the distance to gain his only major league win. He was one of the last surviving members of the 1948 Braves team that made it to the World Series.
He was employed by the Picker Corporation as a salesperson for the installation of x-ray machines and diagnostic equipment for hospitals and medical facilities. He was an avid golfer, joined the Walpole Country Club shortly after retiring from the Braves organization and maintained his membership through his retirement years. Ray was active in coaching Norwood youth sports , including Youth hockey in the early 1960’s. He always remained a strong supporter of Youth Hockey.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 11 at 8:00 AM from the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole Street (Rte. 1A), Norwood, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00 AM in St. Catherine of Siena Church, 547 Washington Street, Norwood. Interment will follow the Mass in Highland Cemetery, Norwood. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home on Sunday, March 10 from 2:00-4:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Friends of Norwood Hockey, PO Box 308, Norwood, MA 02062.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.9.5