Raymond Bucci, Jr. ’60 died on July 26, 2024, in Wenham, Massachusetts.

(The following was provided by Campbell Funeral Home in July 29, 2024:)

Raymond Bucci, Jr. ’60

Raymond Bucci, Jr., 86, passed away July 26, 2024, at his home, surrounded by his family. Born in Beverly, he was the son of the late Raymond and Anne (Acciavatti) Bucci. He is survived by his beloved wife, Lana Chase Bucci, and they recently celebrated sixty-two years of marriage. Also surviving him are his sister, Carole Bucci of Beverly, his four children, Anne E. Moylan and her husband, Stephe,n of South Hamilton, Lori Bucci and her husband, Lou Randazzo, of Wenham, Timothy Bucci and his wife, Margaret, of Tulsa, OK, and Jeffrey Bucci of Beverly. His seven grandchildren, who adored him as their Papa, held a very special place in his heart and include Molly Bucci of Tulsa, OK, Anna Bucci and her husband, Stephen Lefebvre, of New York City, Zack Bucci and his wif,e Paige, of Chicago, Il, Lia and Chase Moylan of South Hamilton, Gianna and Lana (Romie) Randazzo of Wenham. He is also survived his maternal aunt, Matilda Hyde, 102 years old of Beverly, his nephews, Neil, Will, Kenny, and Jon Chase, and many great nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ray graduated from Beverly High School at 16 years of age in 1955, followed by a post- graduate year at Worcester Academy, then Bowdoin College, class of 1960. After college, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 2nd Military Intelligence Detachment, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, GA. His roommate in officer candidate school, Wayne Chase, introduced him to his sister Lana, and she became the love of his life. Soon after they married, he brought his young family back to the North Shore and he remained in the Army Reserves for several years, retiring as a captain. For the past forty-two years they resided in Wenham. He often reminisced about his Bowdoin and Army days, and he dearly loved his friends from both. In the late 1960s, he earned an MBA from Northeastern University. He started his career in insurance with American Mutual, then moved into risk management as a V.P. at State Street Bank. Eventually, he became an executive with Stop & Shop, Inc., later acquired by Royal Ahold N.V., where he became the global head of insurance and risk management in Geneva, Switzerland, retiring at the age of 72. After many years in the industry, he gained the reputation as a global leader in insurance and risk management. One of his proudest accomplishments was the founding of the MollyAnna Company in Vermont, an insurance company named after his first two granddaughters, which later became MAC Risk Management, a company which he led as president. Ray was always someone ahead of his time, and throughout his career he was a champion of equality in the workplace for all.

Despite a demanding career, Ray was civic minded. He coached little league baseball and for more than a decade, he served on the Hamilton-Wenham School Committee, several of those years as chairperson. His work for the schools earned him the reputation as a silent force. Ray valued education and he assured a flagship school system for the kids. Also, he recognized the importance of sports and extra-curricular activities. In the 1970s, he was one of the founding members of the Hamilton-Wenham Touchdown Club, known for their support and successful fundraising for the football team, cheerleaders, and band. The Touchdown Club became a group of lifelong friends who he loved a lot. They got things done, but a party was known to break out in many of these meetings. Ray provided long-term support to a Catholic school for Lakota Sioux children. In retirement, he dedicated time to the Accord Food Pantry.

To Ray, family was everything. What he enjoyed most were family parties and any event in which his kids or grandchildren participated. He traveled near and far, all over the country, to see a grandchild’s graduation, musical, choir, swim and track meets, and football, basketball, and lacrosse games. Papa and Nini (Lana) became regulars at the UVM men’s lacrosse tailgates and games up and down the East Coast.

Devout in his Catholic faith, Ray was a stickler with his kids for Mass and CCD. He assured that all four kids received all their sacraments, and he taught CCD for St. Paul’s in Hamilton.