Ray LaMonica Passes Away

Rosario J. "Ray" LaMonica, 95, of North Reading and formerly of Lawrence, died Monday, Aug. 13, at Winchester Hospital.

Born in Lawrence on January 9, 1923. He was the son of the late Giuseppe and Giuseppina (Ragonese) LaMonica. Ray was raised in Lawrence and he attended Lawrence Public Schools. He was known to his Lawrence contemporaries as Tarzan Brown.

Ray worked for the City of Lawrence for over 32 years. He spent over 50 years as an umpire in both Mass. and N.H., including here in North Reading with the North Reading Little League. He served as a crossing guard in North Reading for 18 years until he retired in his 80’s. He was a hard worker and put his heart into everything he did.

Ray has been a resident of North Reading for the past 27 years. He was a faithful Christian and later in life sang in the Aldersgate United Methodist Church Choir and the North Reading Senior Echoes.

Ray was a born entertainer, singing and performing in many Mass. and N.H. venues, inspired when he worked with Duke Ellington in New York, rubbing elbows with such greats as the Ink Spots, Ella Fitzgerald and many more.

Ray was a very generous man and loved giving out gifts, snow globes at Christmas, chocolate bunnies at Easter and calendars. He was an avid Yankees fan and stood in strong support of them until the day he left us. He loved his Westerns and was especially fond of John Wayne. He could be seen in his later years out and about in his official John Wayne hat when he wasn’t decked out in his Yankee gear. He was a loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great grandfather and friend.

Family members include his loving wife of 27 years, Sara (Dunbar) LaMonica; his son, Adam LaMonica and his wife Michelle and Robert Russo, Jr. and his wife Meg; daughters, Jill Wilkinson and the late Amy Rae LaMonica; six grandchildren, Kristen Hollingsworth, Michelle Russo, Robert Russo, III, Frances Russo, Elijah and Avery LaMonica; two great grandchildren, Ryan and Ava Hollingsworth; nieces Don and Joan Devine, Gilbert Carol Martin and Joyce and Danny Fontenot. He was the brother of the late Anthony LaMonica, Rose Laun and Grace Bistowski.

His funeral will be held at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 235 Park St., North Reading on Monday, Aug. 20 at 11 a.m. Calling hours will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading on Sunday from 1-4 p.m. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to: Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 235 Park St., North Reading, MA 01864. www.croswellfuneralhome.com