Ramon “Ray” Carazo, 76, of North Haven, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at Yale-New Haven Hospital with his family by his side. He was the beloved husband of Joanne Visnosky Carazo for 53 years. Ray was born in Palmerton, Pennsylvania on March 28, 1942 and was the son of the late Joseph and Wilma Strbo Carazo. He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry & Physics and upon graduation for several years worked for Pennsalt Specialty Chemical Company in Rochester, NY. Then Ray got the call for his true passion which was coaching basketball and returned to his alma mater as Assistant Basketball Coach @ U Penn under Dick Harter & Chuck Daly. In 1975, he became the Head Basketball Coach at Yale University. For many years before his retirement he worked for Burns Nationwide Insurance of Naugatuck. Ray was an avid golfer, reader, and sports fan having played basketball, baseball & football. Ray had a wonderful sense of humor who enjoyed gardening and painting, loved crossword puzzles, loved life, his family and friends. Ray had a passion for knowledge & learning and imparted his wisdom on anyone who was willing to listen. Father of Karen Carazo and Christopher (Lisa) Carazo. Brother of Joseph (Phyllis) Carazo and William (Jean) Carazo.
Funeral services will be conducted in the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue on Wednesday morning, Sept. 5th at 11:00 with the Rev. Timothy Meehan officiating. Family and friends may call from 10:00 until time of service. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. Please omit flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Haven, Inc., 89 Mill Road, North Haven, CT 06473.
A loving tribute to your Dad Karen & family. A successful & beautiful life he lived. Prayers, peace & love.
Prayers, love and sympathy from all of us–love you💕💕💕
Linda and I want to express our condolences to Joanne, Karen, and Christopher.
You sometimes hear the expression “larger than life.” That was Ray. I could comment on his athletic abilities, but I want to mention how smart he was. He could ace exams without seeming to study, which annoyed me no end. When I expressed disappointment in my lack of coordination, he said, “But you can milk a cow.” I often ate lunch at Ray’s house, and I got to know his parents as well as Joey and Billy. What a wonderful family he had.
His family tradition continued with his marriage to Joanne. 53 years!
Ray will be missed by many people. I certainly will miss him. He was my true friend.
Rest in peace my friend
JoAnne and family – my deepest sympathy to you all. Our prayers are with you and Ray. A great person and handsome athlete! He left us all with many great moments.
My Condolences to the Carazo Family. We here in Palmerton have lost another legend. So very sad.
What a spectacular man. Fun-loving, jokester, happy. How sad for all of us, and especially his family. Ray—please find my own father up there and share a few laughs. He’s just as funny!
Joanne, My prayers are with you and your family.
To Joanne, Karen, and Chris,
Ray was a husband, father, brother, coach, and friend with superior athletic ability and intellect. He lived his life with gusto and under his own conditions. Today he resides with the Lord.
We know your loss is immeasurable and painful. Take comfort in your memories because they will never leave you, nor will Ray; he will always be walking along side of you. We share your sadness and send our love. He will be missed.
Joanne, so sorry to hear of Rays passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Coach Carazo played an important role in my life and the lives of my teammates, who played for him. He gave me a chance. He was always upbeat. Always ready to play. Always ready to help.
And he could play. Coach not only had an impressive coaching run at Penn and Yale but he also had an impressive athletic career at Penn.
Most importantly, however, after 35 years, when I talk to my teammates, we ask about him. We wonder what has happened to him. That is a long time to still leave a positive impression in someone’s life. And he did with us. I wish I could have told him all of this in person.
Coach Carazo was a positive influence in my life as well as the lives of my teammates at Penn. He was always upbeat. He was always ready to help. He gave me a chance.
And he was an impressive athlete, as well, posting some impressive numbers as a Quaker, playing in the Palestra, serving as the captain of his senior team.
But more importantly, after 35 years, when I speak with my teammates about our time in the Palestra, we ask about him. We wonder how he is. That’s special and I wish I could have told him that personally.
To The Carazo Family, Ray was our go to person for many years at Burns Insurance . He was always so helpful and knowledgeable. It became quite a phone friendship. May he Rest In Peace!
So sorry about your loved one may he RIP
Dear Joanne,
It is with a heavy heart that I write this note to you and your children. I was so sorry to hear of Ray’s passing as we were vacationing in Europe for the past two months. Ray was a classmate, a teammate and a friend who was such an important part of our high school years. I remember him as an outstanding athlete but also as an outstanding student. How wonderful that you will always have the memories of the great times the two of you had together for so many years. Penny and I will be lifting you and your entire family up in prayer as you adjust to life without him. May our Lord give you the strength you need to move forward during this time of such great loss.
With love, Dick & Penny
Joanne
So sorry to hear of Ray’s Passing. You and He were great friends and it was always great to see you at our reunions. Hope to see you at the 60th.
Mike Simpson
Joanne, I am so sorry to hear of Ray’s passing.
I had no idea about Ray’s wonderful and impressive accomplishments.
He will be missed by so many whose lives he touched.
My sympathy and best wishes to you and your family,
Joanne, I am stunned. To me, Ray was an immortal, forever laughing, smiling and always with a kind word.
I cannot imagine your loss. My prayers are with you and your family.
Sorry to hear of Ray’s passing. he was a great man. Proud of his heritage. Go Bombers
Joanne and family,
Kim and I want to extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Rest In Peace. May God bless your family and you all that were classmates.
Dear Joanne
I cannot imagine what it is like to lose a lifelong friend, partner and spouse. I wish you the best.
Ray and I were very close through four years of PHS football. I was a far away admirer as he went on further with his athletic career. I was pleased to see that he graduated in the fields of chemistry and physics. I have an especially fond memory of going to the Palestra with Bob Borbe and Larry Mayer to watch a Carazo coached team in the late 60’s. We came from good place.
Love
Jack
Joanne, it was with great sorrow that I received the notice of Ray’s passing. I can not improve upon Ray’s allocates, they speak for themselves. However I can speak to a time of coming of age in a small single industry town with Ray from sand-lot base ball to Blue Bomber football to “Sock Hops” and dancing with his girl, Joanne, the best jitter bugger around. Those were great times and have become great memories…cherish them and share them with those closest to you…Mike
Joanne, I am so sorry for your loss…. Thinking of Ray and of other classmates we’ve lost makes me sad, but my memories of our time together at PHS are fond ones. I remember Ray as the best true natural athlete I ever personally met – if he had had more time, and we had had more sports, he probably would have been the best at all of them! One time at Memorial Park, Ray came up to the tennis courts and told me he’d like to try it – he’d never held a racket before, and my brother Mike and I played for hours every day, but after the single set Ray and I played, I had the feeling I’d never be able to beat him again. I wish I had had the opportunity to know him better…. My deepest sympathies to you and all your family….