Obituary of Raymond F. Pettit

CHESHIRE - Raymond F. Pettit of Naples, Fl and Cheshire, CT passed away peacefully on June 6, 2017, surrounded by his loving family.  Ray was born on May 28, 1930, in Waterbury, CT.  The son of the late Joseph and Anna O’Rourke Pettit.  He was raised in Waterbury and graduated from Crosby High School and Cheshire Academy.  He then attended Bucknell University on a football scholarship where he starred on the famous and only undefeated football team in Bucknell’s history, graduating in 1953.  He was also a graduate of MIT’s Sloan School of Management’s Senior Executive Program.  He received an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from Stonehill College on May 23, 2004. 

He is survived by his wife and best friend of 64 years, Peggy Murphy Pettit, as well as four beloved daughters:  Linda Barbosa (John), Susan Colasurdo (Joe), Eileen Pettit (AnneMarie Manzione) and Kathleen Pettit and a daughter-in-law, Beverly Pettit.  He is also survived by eight grandchildren:  Tom Pettit (Lynze), Jennifer Pettit Woodis (Brett), Michael Pettit (Haydee), Meghan Barbosa Salonia (Peter), Laura Barbosa, Conor Colasurdo, Casey Colasurdo, and Chase Pettit Colasurdo as well as six great grandchildren.  He is predeceased by his beloved son, Stephen, who passed away on February 18, 2004.  He also leaves two brothers, Reverend Joseph Pettit and James Pettit (Maureen), a sister and brother-in-law Evelyn and Roland LaPerriere, as well as many nieces and nephews. 

Ray began his business career at General Electric in the Business Training Program and went on to ever increasingly responsible positions, culminating his career at GE in 1980 as the Vice President and General Manager of the Consumer Division of GE Capital (Credit Corporation).  Ray then became Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Colgate-Palmolive and a member of the Chairman’s Office.  Next he moved on to the Rockefeller Group, where he was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer as well as President of Rockefeller Center Properties.  He served on several Boards of Directors including:  Cushman Wakefield Inc., Apollo Computer, M/A Com, Inc, and American Express Bank.

Ray was very active in civic, community, and educational organizations in New York, Connecticut, Florida, and Massachusetts.  He served on the Board of Trustees at Quinnipiac College (CT), Norwalk Hospital (CT), Naples Community Hospital (FL), American Cancer Society of Fairfield County (CT), and as Chairman of Stonehill College’s (MA) Board of Trustees. 

Ray and Peggy were generous philanthropists to many charitable organizations, most notably to:  Norwalk Hospital (CT), St Mary’s Hospital (Waterbury, CT), St Raphael’s Hospital (New Haven, CT), PAL of Waterbury (CT), St Louis University High School (MO), Stonehill College (MA), and the Heart Institute of Naples Community Health Services (FL).  Naples Community Health Services honored Ray and Peggy by naming them Lifetime Medical Diplomats. 

He was an avid golfer (understatement) and had many golfing friends at Royal Poinciana Golf Club (FL), The Country Club of Waterbury (CT), and Ballyliffin Golf Club (Donegal, Ireland).  He was also an accomplished boater for many years and enjoyed his friends at the Naples Yacht Club (FL). 

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the charity of your choice.  The family would like to thank the wonderful medical staff at Elim Park, Yale New Haven Hospital MICU, and Connecticut Hospice for being so caring. 

Arrangements – Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 12, 2017, 9:15 from the Alderson Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 S. Main St., to St. Bridget Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m.  Entombment will follow in Calvary Queen of Peace Mausoleum in Waterbury.  Calling hours will be held on Sunday June 11, 2017 from 4:00-8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.