Raymond Tubridy

Tubridy, RaymondMADISON-Raymond (Ray) Tubridy, age78, formerly from south Buffalo, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 24th, at St. Mary's Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, after years of declining health. Born in Buffalo, Ray graduated from St. Joe's High School in 1949. He then went to St. Bonaventure's on an R.O.T.C scholarship, graduating in 1954. He married Elizabeth (Betty) Lomas later that same year, prior to entering the U.S. Army. He served as an artillery officer and a boot camp company commander until 1956. After the Army, Ray and family settled in West Seneca, N.Y., where he went to work for Procter and Gamble. He later took a position with Whitman's Chocolates working first in Buffalo, later relocating to Rhode Island in 1967, and then to the Chicago area in 1974. Ray returned home to Buffalo in 1986, where he continued his career as the "Candy Man" working for various candy manufacturers, until falling ill in 1991. Ray's love for sports centered around hockey. Ray played hockey for St. Joe's, where he was team captain his senior year. He later played hockey for one season at Canisius College when his career was cut short by an injury. Ray coached varsity hockey at Bristol High School, in Bristol, Rhode Island. After moving to Illinois, he continued to coach hockey with the Crystal Lake Hockey Club in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Ray was also an accomplished baseball umpire, well known for his animated work behind the plate. Ray is survived by his wife Elizabeth (nee Lomas), six children: Barbara (Steve) Lombardi; Elizabeth Lyke; Nancy (Dan) Floeter; Ray (Laura White) Tubridy; Jim (Brenda Walz) Tubridy and Eileen Tubridy; and 14 grandchildren: Ben, Luke, David, Shannon, Jonathan, Jesiah, Katrina, Ian, Sean, Carly, Elena, Mara, Mackenzie and Sienna. Ray was the last surviving child of the late Elizabeth (nee O'Boyle) and John J. Tubridy, former Buffalo Fire Commissioner. Ray's siblings were John (Jack), Eileen, Kathleen (Kay), Elizabeth (Betty), Nelson, Paul, and Jeanne. Cemetery: Inurnment will be at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Oregon Visitation: Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Holy Mother of Consolation Catholic Church 651 N. Main St. Oregon. Service: Memorial Serviceswill be held on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Mother of Consolation Catholic Church 651 N. Main St. Oregon.