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Carmino Ravosa
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Obituary for Carmino C. Ravosa

Carmino C.  Ravosa
Carmino Ravosa, one of the most popular songwriters for children in the nation and its foremost musical composer on historical subjects over the past five decades, died on July 19th in White Plains, NY. He was 85 years of age.

Carmino was born in Springfield, MA in 1930. After serving in the United States Army as a corporal in the U.S. Army Band, he graduated from the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT—where he met his wife of almost 60 years, Claire Colby—and received a master’s degree and an advanced degree from Columbia University.

He was a music teacher at the Fox Meadow Elementary School in Scarsdale, NY from 1965 through 1978; he was a Faculty Fellow and the Composer-In-Residence at The Dalton School in New York City from 1978 through 1999; and he was the Composer-In-Residence for Edison Schools Inc. (the largest private manager of charter schools in the nation) in New York City from 1999 to 2003. At both The Dalton School and Edison Schools, Carmino was granted broad latitude and flexibility to creatively use the art and love of music to drive knowledge and learning amongst the students. He was remembered decades later by many of the students that he inspired, many of who went on to admirable musical or entertainment careers and stayed in touch with him over the years.

Carmino was a substantial contributing composer and editor for Silver Burdett & Ginn’s popular music textbook series, “The Music Connection” and “World of Music”, and the composer of the theme musicals in the two series that were used extensively in children’s classrooms throughout the nation. He was a songwriter for CBS’s “Captain Kangaroo” and “Romper Room”, PBS’s “Shining Time Station” and PBS’s publication, “Sesame Street Magazine”.

At the invitation of President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter, Carmino gave a solo command performance of his musical “Ghosts in the White House” in the East Room of the White House in 1978 for over 600 Halloween guests. He also performed selections from his musicals “Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution” and “From George to George” at the 1989 inauguration of President George H. W. Bush. Carmino again performed his musical “From George to George” at the Smithsonian National Museum during the 2001 inauguration of George W. Bush. He was honored as 2009 Alumnus of the Year by the Hartt School of Music, and was honored in 2013 at the Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society.

Carmino’s musical “Scarecrow” (based upon Nathanial Hawthorne’s work, “Feathertop”) won four major awards in 1975 at the International Light Opera Festival in Waterford, Ireland, and his musical “Seneca Falls” was performed in 1976 at Carnegie Hall in New York City for the Women’s Hall of Fame (where he served on the initiation board). He also performed at the Gala Reopening Celebration for the Ellis Island Immigration Museum in New York City in 2001 (with Hume Croyn, Art Bushwald and Leslie Uggams).

Carmino was a beloved resident of Briarcliff Manor Village, NY, where he served for many years on the Board of Trustees of the Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society. He loved the Village and wrote extensively about its rich and significant history. He also performed his musical works at numerous historic landmarks, including the Thomas Paine Museum in New Rochelle, NY (where he served on the board of directors for several years), Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, NY, Washington’s Farewell site at Fraunces Tavern in New York City, Elijah Miller House in White Plains, NY, Washington Irving’s “Sunnyside” home in Irvington, NY, John Adam’s Historic House in Quincy, MA (with Chairperson, David McCullough), the Paul Revere House in Boston, MA, Buchman Tavern in Lexington, MA, and Knapp’s Tavern in Greenwich, CT.

He is survived by his loving wife Claire Ravosa, his daughter Carine Ravosa Feist and her husband Arnold, his daughter Gina Ravosa, his son Dean Ravosa and his wife Ann, his eight grandchildren Nathan, Elissa, Michael, Marielle, Erinn, Colby, Parker and Skylar; and his sister Corena Ravosa.
Visiting hours will be on Thursday, July 23rd from 2pm-4pm and 7pm-9pm at Beecher Flooks Funeral Home, 418 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, NY. A Memorial Service honoring Carmino’s life will be held on Saturday, August 8th at 11am at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 197 Manville Road, Pleasantville, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to one of the following associations that were so important to Carmino. When making your donation, please note that it is “In Memory of Carmino Ravosa” and provide the family mailing address: 60 Hazelton Circle, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510 so that we may acknowledge your generosity. Thank you.

Alzheimer’s Association
P.O. Box 96011
Washington, DC 20090
1-800-272-3900

The Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society
P.O. Box 11, Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
914-941-4393

American Friends of Lafayette
Farinon Center
PO Box 9463
Lafayette College
Easton, PA 18042- 1798
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