Raymond (Ray) Rivas Norat, 87, of Poughkeepsie New York, died on November 3, 2015 from complications of Parkinson's Disease.

Ray was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico and spent his early years in Cagua s, Puerto Rico.  He moved to New York City at 16 and enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served in the 82 ^nd Airborne Paratroopers during World War II.  After his discharge, Ray was employed by Pan American Airways.  He went on to serve a long and distinguished career in government during which he served as Special Assistant to Bronx Borough President, Herman Badillo; Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation under Mayor John Lindsay; and Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Commerce under Governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo.  Ray was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the United States Circuit Judge Nominating Commission for the prestigious Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Ray retired from government in 1986.  From there, he dedicated his life to his two beloved children, Emilia Bridget Norat of Beacon, New York and Reamonn Andres Norat of Miami Beach, Florida.  He proudly served for many years as a founding member of the Board of Trustees of Boricua College, the first private four-year bilingual institution of higher learning in the U.S.  Ray was an active member of the Poughkeepsie Arlington Rotary Club where he created and led the highly successful medical supply donation program along with good friend Jennifer Atkinson of Vassar Brothers Medical Center.  In partnership with healthcare institutions and nonprofit organizations, they coordinated the donation of medical and dental supplies to underserved countries including:  Dominica, Jamaica, Haiti and Uganda.

Ray was predeceased by his sister Lygia Montalvo and his mother Emilia Norat.  He is survived by his children Emilia and Reamonn Norat, his sister Luz Rosenthal and the late Gert Rosenthal along with several nieces and nephews including:  Lygia and Louis Roura, Jose Montalvo and Cathy Padavano, Laura Sanchez, Emily Sanchez and the late Margot Sekular and their son Derek Breitbard, Andrew and Jacquie Rosenthal, and Anthony and Zinnat Roura and their two children Valentina and Alexander.  Ray also leaves behind loving family in Puerto Rico including his close cousin Hector Bonilla Norat and his wife Nancy of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico as well as the extended Sullivan family in upstate New York.

A private celebration of Ray's life will be conducted by the family. Arrangements are entrusted to Joseph J. Darrow Sr. Funeral Home Inc. 39 So Hamilton St. Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 845-452-1840