Raymond D. Irizarry

Raymond Irizarry was born in New York City, NY on October 4, 1941, first son of Raymond M. Irizarry and Elizabeth (Lillian)Irizarry (O’Keefe).  His father had immigrated to NYC via Ponce, Puerto Rico and previously from Spain in the early 1920s.  His mother, Lillian immigrated from County Clare, Ireland a few years later with her sister.  After marriage, they had Raymond in 1941, and then another son, Philip in 1944. Raymond was raised in NYC for most of his childhood years although they also lived on and off in Puerto Rico, where his father owned a record company. Raymond attended the De La Salle Institute and held many odd jobs growing up in NYC. One of his favorites was collecting hangers from the wealthy and famous for pennies to be paid by city dry cleaners. He often told of the many famous people’s paths he crossed.  After graduating in 1959,on a whim, he and a buddy joined the US Air Force, their choice wholly dependent on its southern location for basic training.  Afterwards, Raymond was stationed in Chateauroux, France as an air traffic controller.  In his role there he was involved in the training of military pilots for both the US and other European countries involved in the early Vietnam conflict.  It was on December 24, 1960, that he met a beautiful, hazel eyed French woman attending a Christmas party, Maryse Annie Francoise Hugault. They married six months later in May 1961. 

Ray and Maryse had three children, Richard, Dianne and Philip.  By 1968, Ray’s service had ended with the USAF and the family had immigrated back to the United States.  He joined the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) as an air traffic controller.  That role would move them from Laredo TX to Shreveport, LA, then New Orleans, LA and eventually settle them in the Houston, TX area.  Raymond loved his job as an air traffic controller but joined his brothers and sisters in PATCO in 1981 as one of the 12,000+ strikers who walked out and were fired. He followed that career as an aviation consultant and electronics store manager, eventually retiring with the TSA.  Upon retirement, he and Maryse moved to Cuenca, Ecuador in 2011.  They were able to spend five wonderful years there, traveling all over Central and South America.  In 2016, they returned to the US, settling in North Texas to be close to their three children and grandchildren.

Ray was proceeded in death by his beloved Maryse on January 26, 2024.  His heart broken; he went to join her on April 8, 2024.Ray was proceeded in death by his father Raymond, mother Lillian, brother Philip and nephew Raymond.  He is survived by his son Richard G. Irizarry (p. Scott), daughter Dianne L. Irizarry (m. Randy) and son Philip J. Irizarry.  He was tremendously proud of his eight grandchildren, Mallory Irizarry, Nikolas Irizarry (m. Nadia), Ian Irizarry, Gabrielle Irizarry, Peyton Mayfield, Carson Mayfield, Brendan Irizarry and Kieran Irizarry.  Ray was excited to meet his only great grandson, Aidan, last June and was looking forward to the birth of another great grandson in the spring of 2024.  Ray is also survived by his nephew, Philip Irizarry, niece Christine Irizarry Oldham, great niece Cassandra Oldham and great nephew Raymond Oldham.  He also cherished the relationship he shared with Shirley Furon of Paris, France.  Raymond and Maryse had 63 amazing years together and the memories held by all of their family and friends will be cherished forever.

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