OBIT: Raymond W. DeFrancesco, 84, of Branford

Raymond W. DeFrancesco, of Branford, died Saturday November 28, 2015 at Yale-New Haven Hospital, after a brief illness. He was the husband of Joan Doyle DeFrancesco.

Ray was born in New Haven July 22, 1931, son of the late Vito and Antoinette Carbone DeFrancesco. He attended Hillhouse High School where he was an All-State football player.

He continued his athletic career at New Haven State Teachers College (now SCSU) where he played football and baseball. He was co-captain of both teams his senior season. After graduating Ray spent two years as a U. S. Navy officer in the Korean War.

After the war, Ray became a teacher in the East Haven school system. He earned his Master’s Degree and Advanced Sixth Year Certificate from Fairfield University. He returned to SCSU where he became the freshman football coach and assistant varsity coach. He also coached freshman baseball. He became the Athletic Director at SCSU in 1974, until his retirement in 1992.

A resident of Branford since 1958, Ray coached the American Legion Post 83 baseball team for 15 years. He volunteered for the Special Olympics, serving on the Region 8 Special Olympics as well as the State Special Olympics. He served as the Deputy Commissioner for the Track and Field World Games.

He was a member of American Legion Post 83, Knights of Columbus, Eldorado Council 10, member and past president of South Central Board of Cerebral Palsy in CT, SARAH, Inc. and the Alumni Board of SCSU.

Besides his wife, Ray is survived by his children, Nancy Butler of Branford, Raymond (Caryl) DeFrancesco of North Haven, Mary (Ernest) Glidden of Boston, William (Tamara) DeFrancesco of Albany, NY, and Christopher DeFrancesco of Branford; his grandchildren, Mike, Alicia and Courtney Butler, Todd and Heather DeFrancesco, Katie and Christine Glidden, and Emma and Sophia DeFrancesco; his brother, Vito “Lefty” (Joan) DeFrancesco of New Haven, and his sister Rachel Burton of Wilmington, DE; and his sister-in-law, Rosemarie DeFrancesco of Branford.

He was predeceased by his sister, Rose and brothers, Salvatore, Michael and Anthony.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Southern Connecticut State University Foundation, Inc. C/O The DeFrancesco Memorial Endowed Scholarship 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT. 06515-1355, or to SARAH, Inc., 246 Goose Lane, Suite 104, Guilford, CT 06437. - See more at: http://www.wsclancy.com/obituary/Raymond-W.-DeFrancesco/Branford-CT/1566657#sthash.enX7rnxo.dpuf