"Our deepest sympathy to the Umbrino family. Truly a good guy gone way too soon. Dave and Kathy DeRisio"
In loving memory of
Raymond F. Umbrino, Jr.
June 2, 1951 - April 24, 2022
April 24, 2022. Ray is survived by his wife, Amelia (Nitti) Umbrino; children, Frank (Cristina Domingues) Umbrino, Laurie (Thomas) Sansone, & Renee (Jim) Gizzi; grandchildren, Jimmy, Sammy, Gianni, Emma, Catarina, Angelina, Bianca, Tommy, & Frankie; brother, Frank (Guane) Umbrino; aunts, Celia Uttaro & Rose LaRocca; several nieces, nephews, cousins & dear friends.
Ray's life story will be shared during his visitation at the funeral home at 1411 Vintage Lane, (Between 390 & Long Pond Rd.). Thursday, April 28th, 2-4 & 6-8 PM. His funeral mass will be celebrated Friday at 9:30 AM at St. Lawrence Church, 1000 N. Greece Rd. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Tunnel to Towers, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 in Ray's memory.
On a snowy and cold afternoon in 1978, Ray Umbrino Jr. drove to Kodak to pick up his bride Amelia from work. He always called Amelia his bride, never his wife. On the way home in one of Rochester's worst snowstorms of the decade, they ran into a stranded motorist, his mustache frozen from the cold and ice. Ray stopped and tried to help. That man, a stranger on the street, would ultimately come back to the Umbrino house to get warm, eat a meal and then spend the night. No one who knew Ray was ever surprised to hear that story of his generosity. A plumber by trade, he would often come home with bags of cucumbers, tomatoes, even a broken clock, as payment for the work done that day.
Ray was raised with that generosity. He was born at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester on June 2nd, 1951, to Ray Senior and Emma. They were the family with the always-open door - who had the neighborhood kids over for dinner and coached the local Little League team. Ray Senior taught his son about hard work, taking him on jobs when he was just a young teenager, and eventually telling him to serve his country. Ray entered the Coast Guard in the early 1970s.
It was Ray's mother Emma who taught him there were no barriers to what you could achieve. She was the first local female boss in the male-dominated trucking industry. Emma was also the family problem solver, the sounding board, and the person who helped steer you in the right direction. Ray would later become that for others.
Ray and his brother Frank grew up on Burrows St. It was in that neighborhood of hard-knock Italian immigrants, where Ray also learned loyalty. His friends, his buddies from Otis, Glide, and Emerson streets would be his friends for life. They met every Wednesday night for dinner at the Brook House and talked about all their happiness and their heartaches. This group of men has been there since the beginning and is now reading this about their friend at the end.
But nothing was more important to Ray than his family. His son Frank and his daughters Laurie and Renee. Ask them to describe their father and they'll tell you... Ray was their mentor: a selfless, caring, and doting father. He never had a negative word about his children... he was just so very proud of who they have become.
For his grandchildren, Ray was the funny spinner of stories...He was the man who fought off a bear in the woods and asked his grandchildren to make sure Stella never got jealous of Dora as he dunked them in his morning coffee.
And by his side through it all, the woman he first saw at Zita's corner store in 1968... Amelia was his loyal companion for five decades. His last words on earth were to her.... "Thank you."
Ray always said he may have made a few mistakes along the way but had no regrets.
Our regret... is that he is just gone too soon.
Tributes
"Our deepest condolences to the Umbrino family. The Carnevale Family"
"Condolences and prayers of comfort extended to the Umbrino family."
"71 years ago I lived on the corner of Otis and Burrows Streets, I wasn't Italian but I was friends with 2 guys that were. One being Frank Cocuzzi and the other Ray Umbrino. We became friends at the age of 10. We were friends for over 2 decades. But families were started and we drifted apart. Now both my friends have passed and I will miss them greatly. When asked before I go who my best friends in life were, I will say they were Frank and Ray. Your German buddy, Rest in Peace Ray Chuck Geist"
"Such a beautiful, kind and loving man."
"I have been lucky enough to know Ray for most of my life. We met around the time of kindergarten along with Mike Dossier and Jim Di Pilato I am lucky to say that our friendship has lasted all these years. Ray and I went off to Nazareth Hall at the time of third and fourth grade so from that time through our senior year at Aquinas we saw each other most days. As we all know life happens and we didn?t see each other as often raising families establishing businesses; but when I did have the pleasure of seeing him he made you feel like no amount of time could interrupt your friendship. And when Ray would ask how you were or how was your family you knew by his voice inflection his face and those eyes that they were not hollow questions he was truly interested in your answer. We were all blessed to have him in our lives ! Our prayers and condolences to Amelia and Ray?s entire family. Dave and Kathy Sansone "
"one of the most stand up guys i ever met everyone that has ever known him will never be the same my sympathy to your family i loved this man gerry heusinger"
"This man right here I don?t know if I can even get the right words out. This man gave my family life again he gave my family a second chance. In October of 2000 I was at mcc I kept calling home because I didn?t feel so good. It was busy the phone was never busy my mother wouldn?t allow it. I asked for a friend to please take me home that something felt off. I remember the car not even stopping and I?m running into my burning house and I couldn?t find my family. I thought I lost all of my family members in that fire. I heard my name and I looked up and it was my mama and I fell to my knees crying. Having an asthma attack I begged her to tell me everyone is ok and she said yes. I had to go to the hospital for smoke inhalation when I got out of the hospital??I cried I went home and I forgot that the home I had was now gone. My older sister Jeannie picked me up and took me to MR. and Mrs. Umbrino?s house it was like a castle I never seen anything so beautiful built by his own hands. Mr. Umbrino you gave my mama her home back you gave her that fresh breath of air. You were able to rebuild what was left and torn down. You spent many cold days and weeks rebuilding our home. A place where we all felt safe and you gave that back to us. You gave us many more years of laughter and love and happiness. You gave us our faith back and showed us unconditional love. You were the hero that brought our family together again. You aloud us in your home and hearts there are no words that can express my appreciation towards you and your beautiful family. I?m so lost for words I wish this was just a dream please keep my family and friends in your prayers. Please keep my brother from another frank in your prayers along with his siblings and Mrs. Umbrino. Renee Umbrino Gizzi Laurie Umbrino-Sansone frank Umbrino and his beautiful wife Amelia and grandkids. God I ask you to wrap your loving arms around them during this difficult time. May you continue to give them the strength to get through these challenging times. MR. Umbrino may you rest peacefully with your family in heaven. Thank you ?? for the amazing man that you are. Thank you for giving us our home back and thank you for sharing your family with mine. Have a dance ?? with Jeannie for me she loved you all so much. You will never know how grateful we are?.. to of had you in our lives. You brought happiness back into our home and you gave my parents hope again. You sir will never know how grateful I am for you??and what you have done for others has not gone unseen. You took my nephew as your own you guys really never knew how much that meant to us all even till this day. Sleep in peace Mr. Umbrino and Thank You for everything you have done for my family and I. Love always , Amalia aka Molly "
"Sorry to hear of your loss, may God bless you and your family with peace and comfort during this time. Millie Weatherspoon"
"I first met Ray in 1969 at the Burrows St playground where all his friends from Otis St use to hang out. Shared many laughs and good times together. He was a great guy, always a gentleman, kind , caring , and loving person. He will be missed by so many . Deepest sympathy to his loving family and friends. Rest In Peace Ray."