Raymond P. McCormack
Raymond Paul McCormack, age 90 of Lake Forest, died peacefully at home on December 29, 2017.
Ray, beloved husband to the late Mary Ellen McCormack (nee Atkinson) for over 61 years, married on April 30, 1955. He was loving father of Ray (Judy) McCormack, Dan (Jill) McCormack DVM, Kitty (Remo) Picchietti, and Helen (Greg) Jenko; proud grandfather of Matt and Ray McCormack, Dan, Luke, John, and Tricia McCormack, Emily, Jack and Thomas Picchietti, Kelly (Kevin), Katie and Christian Jenko; caring son of the late Luke and Cecelia McCormack; dear brother of the late Margaret Smith (nee McCormack), the late James (the late Kaye) McCormack, the late Joseph (the late Mary) McCormack DDS, dearest brother-in-law of the late Dorothy (the late Fred) Reynolds, the late Bill (the late Aileen) Atkinson, the late Kay (the late Jack) Shevlin, John (Elaine) Atkinson, and Dan (Mary) Atkinson, cherished uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Ray will be remembered for his selfless and generous nature, strength, hard work, humor, and love for God, his family, and life-long friends — his 17 elementary school classmates and spouses met regularly for nearly 7 decades.
Ray graduated from Resurrection Elementary in 1941, St. Ignatius High School in 1945, and during his senior year at DePaul University he attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago.
Prior to his long career as an electrician (64 years with IBEW, Local 134) Ray served as a radioman in the US Coast Guard at the close of WW2. Ray was one of 12 crew members awarded the silver Medal of Merit from King Haakon VII for saving a Norwegian sailor’s life after landing their PBM “flying boat” in 8 foot Atlantic seas. His 1246 mile round trip was the longest sea rescue in aviation history.
Visitation will be on Sunday, January 7, 2018 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Wenban Funeral Home, 320 Vine Avenue, Lake Forest, IL. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, January 8, 2018 at 10:00 AM at the Church of St. Mary, 175 E Illinois Rd, Lake Forest, IL.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Autism Assessment, Research, Treatment and Services (AARTS) Center at Rush University Medical Center.
Info: Wenban Funeral Home (847) 234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com