WAYLAND - Raymond L. Yamartino, 85, of Wayland, formerly of Waltham, passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 4, 2013.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years Paula (Finan) Yamartino of Wayland; his children Jeanne and Sohale Samari of Honolulu, HI, Bill Yamartino and Lois Siska of Hampden ME, David and Soraya Yamartino of Guam, Tom Yamartino of Wayland, Stephen and Carol Yamartino of Wayland, Richard and Louisa Yamartino of Concord, John and Andrea Yamartino of Ossining, NY, and Julie and Geoff Grace of Grafton. He is also survived by his 20 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild, his brother Ernest Yamartino and family of Wakefield and many nieces and nephews of his predeceased brothers Guido and Robert Yamartino.
Ray was born Nov. 17, 1927 in Marlborough to the late Salvatore and Jenny (Lanzano) Yamartino from Waltham where he grew up. He graduated from Waltham High School in 1945, and after serving two years in the U.S. Army attended Tufts University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and was a member of Tau Beta Pi, an engineering honor society. He plied his trade as a chemical engineer for more than 45 years, bringing his particularly easy intellect to unraveling puzzles and solving problems. He loved a good challenge and was loved and appreciated everywhere he worked not only for his keen mind but for his warm smile and kind spirit. Ray held a fundamental sense of the important things in life and he lived his life by a simple credo -- treat everyone with kindness and devote yourself to the people you love -- the rest will take care of itself.
In 1950 he met and fell in love with Paula Finan, also of Waltham. They were married on September 21, 1951 and thus began a journey together that spanned more than 60 years and resulted in a family to which he devoted every day of his life. He was a wonderful husband and father with a clever sense of humor and an uncanny ability to keep his cool even as chaos reigned around him, which it often did with 8 children. He was known by those closest to him as “Cool Ray” and for good reason. Those of us who may have inherited even a small measure of these dear qualities are all the better for it.
Visitations will be held on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (Off Rte 30), Wayland.
Family and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home at 9:15 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 followed by his Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at Good Shepherd Parish at St. Ann’s Church, 124 Cochituate Rd (Rte 27), Wayland.
Interment will follow in the Yamartino family lot in North Cemetery in Wayland,
In lieu of flowers, his family suggests that memorial gifts in Raymond’s memory be sent to the Good Shepherd Parish at St. Ann’s Church or to the charily of the donor’s choice.