J. Reynald Joseph

Joseph Reynald “Ray” LaVigne was born in West Warwick, RI on December 3, 1930, the first son of Romeo and Merilda LaVigne. After Brown University, the US Air Force during the Korean War, and Rhode Island College (where he obtained the Ed.M. degree), Ray began teaching at Cranston High School in Cranston R.I. in 1956. During this time he was a Sunday school teacher, an organist and choirmaster, and a vestryman at Christ Church and St. Andrew’s Church, both in Providence. He married the former Eleanor Carr, and together they had four sons.
In 1962 Ray and his family moved to the White Plains area, where Ray began teaching English at Woodlands High School and enrolled in the PHD program at Columbia University. At Grace Church, Ray sang in the choir, taught in Sunday school and in adult Education program, and served on the Vestry for a total of twelve years, and as Junior Warden for two years. Ray was also a volunteer counselor and a Board Member of the Cage Teen Center from 1963-1970, and was instrumental in bringing EduCage to the Grace Church parish hall in 1970.
Beginning in 1978, Ray confined his volunteer work to Grace Church programs, working in the after-school program from 1978-82, in the overnight shelter from 1982-85, and as a counselor in Samaritan House from 1985-93. After his retirement form Woodlands in 1986, Ray was a director of the Work Place Program of GCCC form 1986-93. Ray was also active in Cursillo, serving two terms as Parish Lay Rector, and as Musical Director for six Cursillo weekends.
After a second “retirement” in 1993, Ray volunteered in the Grace Church office until 2004, and until 1997 he edited, published and mailed the Grace Church newsletter, The Angelus. Gradually, ill health forced him to curtail, and eventually to discontinue these activities. Ray was predeceased by two sons; Stephen and Mark, He survived by his sons Eric of LaGrangeville, NY, and Paul of Portland, OR and by two sisters: Lucille Provencher of Victoriaville, Quebec, and Jeannine Picard of Cumberland, RI. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, December 10, 1:30 pm at Grace Church, 33 Church Street, White Plains. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ray's memory to Grace Church Community Center, 35 Orchard Street, White Plains NY.