Raymond M Cracchiolo was born on November 11, 1924 and passed on January 9th, 2025 (100). He became a member of the MCGP on September 9.2003 (22).
Raymond Michael Cracchiolo of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, peacefully passed into eternal life on January 9th, 2025, at the age of 100. Born and raised in Detroit, the son of Italian immigrants, Raymond consciously sought out new horizons and faced challenges, while always guided by his Roman Catholic faith.
Raymond was born on November 11th, 1924, to Giuseppe and Benedetta Cracchiolo of Terrasini, Sicily. He was the eighth of nine children. As a child he worked with his brothers to support his family, selling vegetables and fruit from their truck, often on Lakeshore Drive. During these early years he developed his outstanding work ethic and deep commitment to his family. Raymond was known for his discerning intellect, humility, keen wit and connecting easily with everyone.
Raymond attended Wilbur Wright Trade School and developed an extraordinary talent as an engineer and inventor. His unique skill set and ambitious nature served him well as he joined his brothers Peter, Sam and Tom in building both Burns Automatic Corporation and Burns Cold Forge Company. Garnering numerous patents, they helped revolutionize the development of coldforged steel products. Eventually merging with Masco Corporation, Raymond and his brothers would assume executive leadership roles within Masco.
In 1958, Raymond met and married the love of his life, a beautiful and intelligent schoolteacher, Jane Forton of Suttons Bay, Michigan. He lovingly referred to her as his "Jane Girl." Jane was his compass. Together they raised four children: Christi, Heidi, Natali and David. Raymond loved to travel with his family both in the states and abroad sharing with them his love and enthusiasm for art, music, cuisine and culture.
As a young man, Raymond was an avid snow skier. He enjoyed skiing in Northern Michigan, New Hampshire, Idaho, Banff, and later, Colorado. One of his greatest joys in life was skiing with his children and grandchildren. Raymond and Jane spent many glorious winters at their home in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Raymond was passionate about his home and gardens in Grosse Pointe and he poured himself into their beautification and preservation. Friends and family enjoyed his beautiful trees, gardens, greenhouse orchid collection and picking vegetables with him in the garden. A great delight was sharing the Christmastime lighting of the Ginkgo tree on his front lawn with the community. Sharing his home and making memories with loved ones always brought him immense joy. Later in life he would quietly state that God's natural beauty was his heaven on earth.
Raymond was dedicated to his physical fitness. He skied and played tennis well into his 90s and exercised daily through his 100th year of life. Healthy eating was a priority and one of his greatest pleasures was preparing vegetables from his garden. As a lifelong learner, he began weekly piano lessons at the age of 75.
Raymond always found solace in his unwavering faith and commitment to living a generous life that blessed others. One of Raymond's greatest gifts of service was showing up without hesitation to support those in need. His compassion and tenderness toward widows, the sick and the bereaved was a constant throughout his life. As a member of the Order of Malta, he took multiple pilgrimages with his children to Lourdes, France, serving those in need of healing. He and Jane shared a devotion to giving to the local community of Detroit and other philanthropic endeavors: The Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, University of Detroit Jesuit High School, St John's Hospital, the Rose Hill Center and numerous Catholic institutions.
His legacy is one of love, faith and generosity–a life lived fully and shared abundantly. Raymond is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Jane; his children, Christi Small (Eric), Heidi Bell (John), Natali Ceniza (Bill Royal) and David Cracchiolo (Lucretia); 13 grandchildren, Catherine Mitchell (Ben), John Bell IV, Thomas Bell, Mackenzie Miller (Tyler), Heidi Small, Sophia Ceniza, Mariana Ceniza, Raymond Cracchiolo II, Salvatore Cracchiolo, Vincent Cracchiolo, Angelo Cracchiolo, Louis Cracchiolo and Elaina Cracchiolo; and four great-grandchildren, Benjamin Mitchell, Raymond Mitchell, Lola Bell and George Mitchell.
A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, February 15th with instate at 11:30 a.m. until the time of Mass at 12 noon at St Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lakeshore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan.
Memorial donations to honor Raymond Cracchiolo may be made to the Rose Hill Center, 5130 Rose Hill Blvd, Holly MI 48442, Rose Hill Center; Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist, 4597 Warren Rd, Ann Arbor MI 48105, Sisters of Mary; or Right to Life of Michigan, 27417 Harper Ave, St Clair Shores MI 48081. Right to Life.