Raymond J. McQuade

Ontario: Suddenly passed away on the winter solstice surrounded in love by family and his trusty companion Rusty. He had a sense of humor and a smile on his face until the very end. Predeceased by his beloved wife of 41 years Janet McQuade.

Survived by his daughters Meghan and Allison as well as his siblings: Jack and Helene, Grace and Peter Wilkie, Eileen and Tom Fedele, Tim and Marilyn, and Kathy and Dave Calabro along with their children and grandchildren. Beyond this he had a strong network of extended family and lifelong friends.

Raymond McQuade had a life and spirit that transcended words on a page. He was born April 14, 1948 to parents John and Marjorie in Kings NY, commonly known as Brooklyn. Not many years later he and his growing family left for "the country" and settled in Croton, where many of them still reside today. He is survived by his 5 siblings and their families: Jack and Helene, Grace and Peter Wilkie, Eileen and Tom Fedele, Tim and Marilyn, and Kathy and Dave Calabro along with their children and grandchildren.

He was a rambunctious and fun loving child who loved to push the nuns at his Catholic school to the edge. He began his college education at Morrisville and then continued on getting his bachelor's degree in Physics from UB. While there he was a proud member of the Theta Ki fraternity and those friendships would go on to last a lifetime. On campus he also met Janet and the two were married graduation day 1971. Their contrasting personalities would lead to 41 fruitful years of marriage and two daughters Meghan and Allison.

He first worked as a science and math teacher, specializing in chemistry and earth science in Fillmore and Lackawanna NY. Yet he was a true renaissance man trying his hand as a boat captain, electrician, highwayman, and bartender. His big break came when he was hired as a contractor for Xerox in 1980. Business brought him around the world, everywhere from Hong Kong, Singapore, Guadalajara but it was his heart that connected him to the many people he would meet. Whilst juggling his career and a growing family he completed his master's degree from the University of Rochester in Materials Science, one of his proudest achievements. He valued education not for the grades he received but the personal satisfaction he gained; the night before an important exam you could often find him calmly reading a JRR Tolkien novel.

Later in life he loved most to walk our dog Rusty through the orchards, watch chicken tv, grow vegetables in the garden, and wait for the cardinals to return to our front window. When his wife became sick he took it as his personal mission to see to her every comfort. The two most enjoyed traveling together and in this final year he brought her to the Pasadena rose parade, Hawaii, Ottawa, Philadelphia among other destinations

Even through his very last moments he never lost his zeal for life or his love of people he maintained an unsullied innocence evident in every mischievous grin. Ray left us on winter solstice, his most anticipated holiday, as there was nothing he loved more than to watch the days grow longer. What remains of him now is the light he brought to each of our hearts and minds.

Family and friends may call from 5-9 PM on Friday (December 30) at the funeral chapel, 1961 Ridge Rd., Ontario, NY, 14519.  Interment at Lakeview Cemetery in the Spring. To leave the family an online condolence, please visit www.murphyfuneralservices.com.