Walsh, Raymond F. Md

DELMAR, NY - It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Raymond F. Walsh, MD, on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at the age of 70 years.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 47 years, Susan; children: Kathryn Walsh (Lacey Largeteau), Elizabeth Walsh (Michael Manzione), Emma Guidarelli (Matthew); grandchildren: Dorothy and Raymond Manzione, and Louis Guidarelli; sisters: Holly Dennehy (Dennis), Cathy Margiotta (James), Nancy Nock (Paige); brothers-in-law: Matthew Reagan (Annette), Michael Reagan (Susan), and Christopher Reagan; as well as many nieces and nephews, relatives, and friends.

He will also be dearly missed by his friends and colleagues at Siena College, Albany Medical Center, and Double H Ranch, and by his close-knit group of “fishing buddies”.

He was predeceased by his parents: Francis and Grace Walsh; his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Matthew and Peggy Reagan; and his sister and brother-in-law: Marion and Patrick Gallo.

Ray was born and raised in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY. He forged lifelong friendships prior to graduating from Monsignor McClancy High School in 1970. During high school, he worked as a janitor in a local doctor’s office anddreamed of becoming a physician.

Ray went on to attend Siena College in Latham, NY. One night at the campus bar he introduced himself to Susan. They immediately connected, and after graduating from Siena in 1974, they married in the fall of 1976.

That same year, Ray started Medical School at the Universita di Bologna Italy. His books and classes were in Italian so, out of necessity, he became fluent in the language. In 1982, he returned to the U.S. and began his three-year residency in Pediatrics at Albany Medical Center, spending an additional fourth year as Chief Resident in Pediatrics. In 1986, he joined the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo for a fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care. In 1988, he returned to Albany Med where he spent the next 30 years as an Attending Physician in Pediatrics and Pediatric Critical Care.

In the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Albany Med, Ray took loving care of his patients and saved thousands of young lives, often with a cup of coffee in hand and a caring smile on his face. He was admired and adored by his colleagues.

After retiring from the PICU in 2017, Ray’s professional life came full circle. He was honored to accept the position of Director of the Joint Medical Program in the Biology Department at Siena College. He continued in this role for the remainder of his life, serving as a leader and mentor to the next generation of medical students.

For 30 years, Ray was a volunteer physician at Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne, NY and served on the Medical Advisory Board. One of his proudest accomplishments was developing “Camp Inspiration at Double H Ranch”, a summer camp session for children who require breathing devices to live. This program would not be possible without Ray’s dedication, expertise, and volunteer spirit. In 2016, he was awarded Double H Volunteer of the Year. He humbly remarked that he should be giving Double H an award instead. His time at camp gave him a chance to see kids having fun outside the PICU and reminded him why he became a physician.

Ray was an avid fly-fisherman, spending many afternoons on the Battenkill fishing for a catch and release. His love of the sport led him to a close group of friends who traveled annually to Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod. These trips with his dear friends were a highlight of his life.

In such a full life, Ray’s grounding force was his family. He never accepted credit without thanking the love of his life, Sue, for her unwavering support. Ray was enormously proud of his daughters and their families, and will be remembered by them as the greatest dad they could ever hope for.

Ray led a big life, changing everyone who knew him for the better. In his final days, Ray simply asked that his grandchildren be “raised to be kind” - a fitting legacy for the kindest soul.

A Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 10 am in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 35 Adams Pl., Delmar, NY 12054.

The family wishes to send a special thank you to Ray’s extraordinary team of doctors: Laurence Garbo, MD; Chung-Han Lee, MD; Matthew DiCaprio, MD; and William Feeney, MD; as well as all other medical staff that provided him care.

Memorial donations may be made in Ray’s name to Double H Ranch, 97 Hidden Valley Rd., Lake Luzerne, NY 12846. https://www.doublehranch.org/donate