Raymond W. Fogarty, 61, of Melody Hill Lane, Harmony, died Thursday, September 27, 2018 at The Carolinas Medical Center in North Carolina. He was the loving husband of Phoebe (Dahlquist) Fogarty. They had been married for 33 wonderful years.
Born in Providence, he was especially proud to be the son of the late Raymond H. and Mary (Hogan) Fogarty. As a lifelong resident of Harmony, there was no place he loved to be more, often saying, “As nice as it is to travel, there is nothing better than coming home.”
Ray was the Executive Director of the Chafee Center for International Business, RI Export Assistance Center, and World Trade Center RI at Bryant University. The Center was instrumental in providing businesses with the resources to embark in international commerce. Under his leadership, the Center was transformed from a local service into a model private/public organization with international strategic partnerships and clients. In 2000, the Center received the top export development recognition in the country – the President’s E-Award. He was instrumental in the creation of NASBITE (National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators), the Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) credentials and the founder of Bryant’s World Trade Day. Dedicated to international trade for more than 30 years, Ray was honored as the 2016 recipient of the NASBITE International John Otis Lifetime Achievement Award.
Ray served with distinction for 10 years as a RI State Representative before stepping down to focus his attention on his local community and young family. He was co-chair of the Harmony Hill School Capital Campaign as well as co-chair of the Foster-Glocester Building Committee. He served as Moderator for the Town of Glocester and Harmony Fire Department for many years. He was the chair of the Small Business Loan Fund as well as co-chair for the Rhode Island Industrial Facilities Program for the State of Rhode Island. He served as a Chief Steward for the Sons of Irish Kings and always enjoyed the company of cousins. He was very proud to honor the legacy of his late uncle, Congressman John E. Fogarty by serving on the board of his foundation for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Though he was involved in many things, he most treasured his time spent with family and friends. Ray spent many years coaching and cheering on his children, many relatives and friends in local sports.
Besides his wife he is survived by his children: Raymond E. Fogarty and his wife, Kailyn of Harmony, Margaret E. Fogarty and her fiancé, Michael Coyle of Noank, CT, Michael J. Fogarty and Joseph E. Fogarty, both of Harmony, his granddaughter, Margaret Q. Fogarty and his siblings: Elaine Pavao and her husband, Paul of Smithfield, Patricia Pettit and her husband Kevin of North Providence, Margaret Chella and her husband, Michael of Harmony and sister in law, Gail Higgins Fogarty. He was the brother of the late Edward M. Fogarty and they are now together again enjoying the winningest season in Boston Red Sox history. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial to which relatives and friends are invited will be held Wednesday at 9:30am in St. Philip Church, 622 Putnam Avenue, Greenville. Burial will be in Acote's Hill Cemetery, Chepachet. Visitation Tuesday 4-8 pm in the Anderson-Winfield Funeral Home, Rt 44 at Greenville Common, Greenville. Please omit flowers. Donations in his memory may be made to The John E. Fogarty Foundation, One Turks Head Place, Suite 205, Providence, RI 02903