Renaissance Senior Living of Vero Beach resident Raymond J. Morris Jr. has always called places home where roots run deep and community matters. Born on August 20, 1931, in Poughkeepsie, New York, Ray grew up in the close-knit town of New Paltz. His parents, Raymond Sr. and Margaret, were part of the fabric of the area—Ray Sr. owned and operated a plumbing company that kept the Morris family busy and connected to their neighbors. In 1939, Ray’s younger brother Edward joined the family, making the Morris household a lively one.

Ray’s early years were shaped by faith, family, and a sense of purpose. He attended St. Peter’s Catholic School in nearby Rosendale through eighth grade before following the influence of his uncle, Fr. Bill Morris, to the Augustinian Academy in Staten Island. Ray spent his high school years there, growing in discipline and knowledge from ninth to eleventh grade. Yet, the pull of home was strong. During the summer before his senior year, Ray decided to return to New Paltz High School, graduating with the class of 1950.

After high school, Ray went right to work alongside his father in the plumbing business. But when the Korean War broke out, he felt the call to serve. With a couple of friends, he signed up for the U.S. Navy. On the day he was to leave, his friends didn’t show up, so Ray took the train to New York City by himself, then on to Newport, Rhode Island, for eight weeks of basic training. He was soon stationed on the USS Grand Canyon, a destroyer repair ship, for a Mediterranean tour. During his service, Ray had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: meeting the Pope in Rome, a highlight that stayed with him for years. He was honorably discharged in 1954.

Home again in New Paltz, Ray worked for his dad before deciding to continue his education. He attended Krissler’s Business Institute in Poughkeepsie, graduating in 1955, and weighed job offers from the local electric utility, Central Hudson, and IBM. Ray chose IBM in Kingston, starting as an Accounting Timekeeper and working his way into management. He spent more than three decades with the company before retiring in 1987.

Ray’s life took a joyful turn at PnG’s, a favorite local bar and restaurant in New Paltz, where he met Bernadette Lawler. They married on July 14, 1956, built their home in New Paltz, and raised two children, Patrick and Beth. Ray’s sense of community was always strong—he joined the New Paltz Fire Department in 1947 and eventually became Fire Chief from 1961 to 1963. He remains a lifetime member to this day.

Ray’s time with the fire department revealed a need for better emergency communication across Ulster County. He took it upon himself to create the Ulster County Emergency Communications Center, spearheading the installation of radio towers on mountain tops and opening two dispatch centers. Appointed the county’s first Emergency Communications Director, Ray also served as an Ulster County Fire Coordinator. His commitment to service extended to the New Paltz School Board, where he served as President twice, and to the local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, where he became Commander.

After retiring from IBM, Ray wasn’t quite ready to slow down. He took on a new role as Deputy Commissioner of Finance at the Ulster County Department of Public Works until his second retirement in 1996. Even then, Ray found ways to stay active, working part-time at the New Paltz Golf Course and Ulster BOCES.

Ray’s beloved wife Bernadette passed away suddenly in 1991. In time, Ray found companionship again with Diane Lucchesi, sharing many happy years together until her passing in February 2025. Drawn by a love of golf, Ray and Diane became “snowbirds,” wintering in Port St. Lucie, Florida, at the PGA Village, where Ray served as President of the Homeowners Association for several years. They made Port St. Lucie their permanent home in 2018.

After Diane’s passing, Ray moved back to New York for a time, staying with his daughter and son-in-law in Stone Ridge. Eventually, he returned to Florida to be closer to his son and daughter-in-law in Vero Beach, settling happily into Renaissance Senior Living of Vero Beach.

Ray Morris will turn 95 this August. His family is at the center of his life—his son Patrick and wife, his daughter Beth and her husband, a stepson and stepdaughter and their spouses, ten grandchildren, and four great-granddaughters. Ray is truly cherished by each of them. Through decades of service, devotion to his community, and the quiet strength of his character, Ray has built a legacy that continues to inspire those who know him.



It’s a life marked by commitment—to family, to neighbors, and to making each place he’s called home just a little bit better.