Raymond J. Fontana ’45

Raymond J. Fontana ’45 died on January 7 in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he and his wife, Lynda, had a home. He graduated from Classical High School in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1941 and from Dartmouth in 1945. He earned a law degree in 1949 from Northeastern University in Boston. He served as a lieutenant commander in World War II and

later as a naval officer in the Korean War. He owned a successful insurance company in Springfield and practiced law in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida. He was an avid member of the Republican Party and was elected to its the governors council for two terms (1966-70) and as a registrar of probate in Hamden County, Massachusetts (1969-71). He also served as a member of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and as the authority’s resident legal council in 1983. Raymond belonged to numerous organizations including Rotary Club, the National Italian American Foundation, Elks, Dartmouth alumni and many others. Raymond shared his business skills with his involvement in education programs at Eckert College in St. Petersburg. His true passion was people and politics. He enjoyed talking to everyone and found common ground with all he met. He was an avid reader, loved his Italian heritage and lived every day to the fullest. He married Maria in 1950 and they had children Diama, Dante, John and Raymond Jr. He was predeceased by Maria, Diama and his second wife, Doris. Raymond and Lynda were drawn together in love, laughter and companionship and lived in Clinton, Connecticut, and St. Petersburg. He is survived by Lynda, his sons, daughter-in-law Lisa and granddaughters Clara and Odessa.