Obituary of Raymond S. Kolodziejczak

Raymond Kolodziejczak, known affectionately to friends and family as "Ray," took his final, gentle bow from this world on December 1, 2024, at the ripe age of 87. Born on a sunny Friday the 13th in 1937, in the cozy town of Hammondsport, NY, Ray decided to hang his hat one last time in the very place he first tipped it, leaving us with laughter in our hearts and countless stories to tell.

Ray was the kind of man who believed that life was a little bit like farming – you reap what you sow, and boy, did he plant a garden of love and devotion. He was the beating heart of his family, outlived by his beloved children Steve, Sharon Reed, Karen Derr (partner in crime, Jim), Scott, Brenda Landry (co-conspirator, Robert), Ronald, and Robert, who all inherited his knack for living life to the fullest. He joined his wife, Jean, the love of his life, in the great beyond, undoubtedly, to continue their eternal dance. He was the cherished son of Edmund and Helen, and the brother of the late Edju and the late ever-sparkling Barbara Bailey (Ted), brother, Tony (Kathy). He is also survived by his favorite Aunt Joanie, his grandchildren: Katelynn, Megan, Allison, Diana, Audrey, Elizabeth, Claire, James, Gabrielle, Matthew, Peter, Ben, Trenton, Cody, Holley, 13 great grandchildren, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The grandchildren and his great grandchildren were the apples of his eye.   We all will miss his legendary bear hugs, wise cracks and the fact that he was pretty much a human GPS. He had an ability to get to any destination, even if it wasn’t the most direct route. He was an expert meteorologist and was able to forecast the weather to the hour with such accuracy.  Ray's work ethic was as robust as a tractor and as tireless as the sun. He grew up on a family farm in Pleasant Valley, he clocked in time at the Taylor Wine Company and Lane Construction. Not one to sit idle, he embarked on a grand adventure in 1960, founding Ray Kolo Excavating, a business that dug deep into success. He didn't hang up his hard hat until just last year, proving that retirement is for quitters, and Ray was no quitter.

While Ray was a man who could outwork machines, he was most proud of the legacy he built at home. His family was his crowning achievement, a living testament to his selflessness, gentle spirit, and wisdom that seemed to stretch higher than the cornstalks.

When Ray wasn't moving earth or harvesting love from his family, he soared the skies as a pilot, in his Cessna 150, his trusty steed. He was convinced that if you're going to take a break from work, why not do it a couple of thousand feet above ground? It provided a bird's-eye view of the life he built and the land he cherished.

Ray was a man of few words, but when he spoke, you'd swear he was the love child of Mark Twain and a stand-up comedian. He could deliver a punchline with the precision of a surgeon and the warmth of a summer's day in Hammondsport.

To say Ray will be missed is an understatement akin to calling the Grand Canyon a ditch. He leaves behind a legacy of laughter, hard work, and an endless supply of stories that'll keep his memory flying high. His departure may have left a hole in our hearts, but like any good excavator, he taught us how to fill it back up with love, joy, and a good dose of humor.

So here's to Raymond "Ray" Kolodziejczak, “Kolo” a man whose life was as full and rich as the soil he once tended. May he rest in peace, knowing that, we're all still chuckling at his jokes and inspired by the life he led. Fly high, Ray, and keep an eye on us from that great blue yonder. 

The curtain may have closed on Ray's time with us, but the encore of his influence will play on in the hearts of all who knew him. He was one of a kind, he did it his way, and the world is a tad less bright without his smile. But as Ray would say, "Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened." And happen, it did. Thank you, Ray, for every moment.

Calling hours will be Thursday, December 5, from 3-6 pm at Fagan’s Funeral Home in Bath. A mass of Christian burial will be at 10 am on Friday, December 6, at St. John Vianney Parish in Bath. There will be a lucheon following the services at the Pleasant Valley Winery Visitor Center at noon.