Obituary of Raymond (Ray) Corbo

Corbo, Raymond (Ray), age 92, a life-long resident of Paterson, NJ died peacefully on Thursday, May 1, 2014 surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of Rose M. (nee Lattanzio) Corbo formerly of the Bronx, NY, Rose and he would have been celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary next month. A true family man, Ray is also survived by his three children, Joyce A. Corbo of Paterson, Raymond Scott Corbo of Paterson, and Richard Victor Corbo of Wayne. He is the proud grandfather of five grandchildren, Raymond Scott Corbo Jr. and his wife Heather of Pompton Lakes, Gina Lynn (Corbo) Purvis and her husband Dave of Oakland, Amy Faye Corbo of Pompton Lakes, Rhiannon Joy Corbo of Wayne and Richard Victor Corbo Jr. of Wayne, two great-grandchildren, Antonio Miles Purvis and Ella Makayla Rose Corbo, and was expecting the arrival of his third great-grandchild in October. Ray is predeceased by his parents, Hector and Josephine (nee Lazzio) Corbo of Paterson and his sister Clare (Corbo) Sullivan of Wyckoff. He will also be missed by his nieces and nephews and an extended family of cousins and close friends. Ray was a retired electrician and 50 year member of the IBEW Local 102 and member of the American Legion, Post #360. He was also a charter, life-member of the Fraternal Order of Passaic Valley Elks, NJ #2111 Totowa chapter. A proud American WWII veteran, Ray signed up for service following the Pearl Harbor attacks and served in the USS Navy from July 1942 through January 1946. As an electrician aboard the USS SEEKONK AOG in the Pacific theater, he spent time in New Guinea and the Philippines and made some life-long friends. Years later Ray reunited with many of his Seekonk shipmates at numerous reunions they held throughout the country. Local Paterson and Totowa residents may recall seeing him and his vintage 1962 burgundy Buick Skylark participating in many Memorial Day Parades with the American Flag proudly attached to the antennae and his SEEKONK AOG license plate commemorating his service to our country. Ray was a sports enthusiast all his life, ”athlete, coach, umpire, fan-he loved participating as well as spectating. He grew up in the Totowa section of Paterson playing ball at the Totowa Oval. He played sports during his high school days at Central High School in Paterson. After his graduation in 1940, he continued to be part of many Paterson, Passaic County and North Jersey teams and was known for his athletic abilities in football, baseball and basketball. Before enlisting in W.W. II he played baseball for the Championship team, the Northends, for a number of years. He was a member of the 1939-1940 Division Championship Westends (Totowa Area) Basketball team. After the war, he played football for the Juliano Belmonts in the North Jersey Professional League and played many a game at Hinchliffe Stadium where he was known for his speed and agility and was given the nickname "Snake Hips". In the mid 1960's, he was a baseball coach for the Paterson Warriors, the area AAABA winners. For over ten years beginning in the late 1960's he began coaching and managing younger boys for St. Gerard's Midget and Little Leagues in Paterson. Local men may also recall him as an umpire for area young adult baseball and softball leagues during the late 1970's and early 1980's. And throughout it all he was a New York Jets fan, attending countless games with his sons and grandson—through the Jets'good years, as well as bad. Ray also loved to golf and had fond memories of funny times on the links. In his later years, he thoroughly enjoyed reminiscing with other Paterson past athletes (many of whom he played with or against) at the Old Timers' Central/Eastside Sports monthly luncheons. Ray's service to the Paterson community extended outside of sports as well. As a parishioner of St. Gerard Majella Roman Catholic Church, Paterson, he was also a past Webelo leader for their Boy Scout troop in the 1960's. A proud Patersonian, Ray enjoyed recounting what he knew of Paterson's rich history. He loved the beach and the Jersey Shore. He enjoyed sunbathing, swimming and cruising with Rose and friends to sunny climes. He cherished his family and friends and will be remembered always for his fun-loving, caring nature and infectious smile. Friends are invited to visit with the family at Festa Memorial Funeral Home, 111 Union Blvd., Totowa NJ 07512 on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 from 3 PM to 8 PM. Funeral services for family and friends will be held from the funeral home on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 10 AM with a Funeral Mass immediately following at 10:30 AM at St. Gerard Majella Roman Catholic Church, 501 West Broadway, Paterson, NJ 07522. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Ray's memory to Eva's Village, Inc., 393 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07501, www.evasvillage.org or a charity of your choice. To leave a note of sympathy please visit, www.festamemorial.com.