Raymond E. Rivard Obituary

#Middlebury #Obituary

Raymond E. Rivard of Middlebury passed away peacefully April 17, 2021, at Yale New Haven Hospital after a brief illness. Ray was the husband of the late Arlene Galvin Rivard, who died peacefully November 17, 2015. Ray was born January 1, 1937, in Norwich, Connecticut, to Lucien and Blanche (Marchand) Rivard.

Ray was a retired state vocational teacher and former State of Connecticut higher education trustee for over 10 years, representing state community colleges. Ray had a master’s degree in education from Central Connecticut State University. He was a three-year veteran honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. Ray later joined with the greatest generation of Marines from World War II. He served as treasurer and later president of the National Iwo Jima Armed Forces Memorial Foundation in New Britain, Connecticut. Ray also was an active member of the Marine Corps League detachment in New Britain.

Ray is survived by his four daughters, Andrea Mayshaw, Noreen Garrity, Carolyn Rivard, and Raellen Rivard. He also is survived by five grandchildren, Patricia (Owen) Dutton, Sean (Rachel Maretta) Garrity, Ryan (Shelby) Garrity, Caitlin (Tyler) Lawrence-Clark and Tyler Lawrence; and two great-grandchildren, Noah and Autumn Dutton and several nieces and nephews. Ray is survived by his two brothers Andre (Mary) Rivard of Dublin, Ohio, and Bernard (Barbara) Rivard of Prospect, Connecticut and his sisters-in-law Nancy Rivard and Martha Rivard. In addition to his beloved wife of 55 years, Arlene, Ray was predeceased by his brothers Ronald Rivard and Joseph Rivard and his sister Denise Capozzi.

Ray had a wonderful life and was blessed to be healthy for 84 years. He and Arlene raised four children and helped raise three grandchildren. Ray and his family loved to travel. They did many trips that included visits to American cemeteries to honor and remember our fallen U.S. veterans. One trip in particular was a special honor for Ray, to Normandy, France and the American cemetery above Omaha Beach. Ray lowered the flags at the end of the day above the thousands of crosses representing our fallen heroes.

Ray’s dedication to his wife, kids and grandkids was endless. There was no problem he couldn’t solve, he left no stone unturned. We are so proud and grateful for our dad. He was our treasure and we were so blessed to have him. Our dad’s memory will live in our hearts forever.

The Kelly Brennan Funeral Home arranged a private funeral military Mass in April followed by burial at Lake Elise Cemetery in Middlebury at the side of his wife, Arlene.

In lieu of flowers, friends can make donations in memory of Raymond Rivard to Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 310516, Newington, CT 06131-0616 or to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia.

Please remember the National Iwo Jima Memorial Park and Foundation. Those 100 names on our monument were killed in action on Iwo Jima and most were teenagers. This is the only foundation and memorial park built by Iwo Jima survivors, which included mostly Marines, with a few Navy also involved. Semper Fidelis!