In Celebration of
Raymond "Ray" Zucchiatti
November 4, 1931 -
February 15, 2019
Ray lived fully, loved deeply, and laughed often before dying peacefully at age 87 on February 15, 2019. He was a beloved and loving son, grandson, brother, nephew and cousin, as well as a beloved and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, in-law, and a wonderful friend to many. Integrity, compassion, kindness, generosity, and a sense of humour were among his many positive qualities.
Ray was a gifted student and athlete. His love of and talent for building and fixing things led to a career in building houses and apartments. He first worked with his father and then established his own business.
His love of hockey revolved around the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies. He was a season ticket holder for the Leafs for decades and general manager for the Marlies minor organization for a few years. His passion for golf was evident in his 50-plus-year membership at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, where he often scored very well (despite rarely practising); he also served on their board of directors. A love of horses led to over 20 years as a Thoroughbred racehorse owner and a lifelong fondness for watching equestrian events.
Other interests included dogs, books, theatre and music performances, dining out, bridge, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, quizzes, the news, and when he was younger, travel. He also loved making donations to charities, and in December he was praised in the Toronto Star for his regular contributions to their Santa Claus Fund.
His favourite place to be was home, especially with family, friends and pets, followed closely by St. George’s (“the Club”), which was like a second home in many ways.
Ray’s first priority in life was the health and happiness of his family. He leaves his wife of 58 years, Beth (née Goodman); their children, Lori (Michael), Paul (Elizabeth) and David (Sandra); his grandchildren, Jacob, Trinity and Amanda; his brother Gino (Rae) and sister Helen (Dino), as well as other cherished family members and dear friends.
The family would appreciate charitable donations in Ray’s memory, especially to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Toronto Humane Society.
We mourn the loss of this wonderful person as we celebrate the great gift of his life.
May we honour his memory by being kinder to all.