In Memory of

Raymond

F.

Kennedy

Obituary for Raymond F. Kennedy

Raymond Francis Kennedy of Pleasantville, New York and East Rupert, Vermont died on 3/14/18 at the age of 87 of complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Ray was a man of wide ranging interests. He was a musician, who played the bass, graduated from Juilliard and played with big bands, including those of Less and Larry Elgart and Johnny Long . Ray was a proud veteran of the Navy, having served from 1951 to 1955. He studied at Queens College and Columbia University, becoming an ethnomusicologist with interests in both Pacific music and American popular music in culture. He was a dedicated teacher, serving on the faculties of the College of Guam, University of Hawaii, Brooklyn College, Hofstra University, Mannes School of Music and CUNY John Jay College. He was the author of the award winning educational filmstrip “Pop Music in the Twentieth Century”. Curious about everything, Ray maintained a lifelong habit of reading the daily newspapers and clipping interesting articles. His family and friends would often receive envelopes full of clippings on topics he thought they might enjoy. His volunteer service included being on the boards of the Pleasantville Chamber Music Society, Dalcroze School of Music, Society for Asian Music, and Friends of the Mount Pleasant Library.
Ray loved his family. He is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Pat; daughter Patricia Rae Kennedy and her husband Christopher Claps; daughter Jane Royce and her husband Douglas Royce; and three grandchildren: Kevin Claps, Jackson Royce, and Catherine Claps.
Ray was a daily communicant at Holy Innocents Church in Pleasantville, NY where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on March 19, 2018 at 10 am. Visitation will be at Beecher Flooks Funeral Home, 418 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, NY on Sunday March 18, 2018 from 2pm – 5 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation in Ray’s name to a charity of your choice.