Raymond A. Banach's Obituary
Raymond A. Banach, 83, of North Syracuse, former Onondaga County Commissioner of Finance, passed away at home on Friday with his family at his side after a six year battle with multiple myeloma. A Syracuse native, Ray was a 1947 graduate of CBA and a 1951 graduate of CCBI. He was a member of LeMoyne College's first class and took additional finance classes at the University of Connecticut. Ray began his career in Syracuse as an agency cashier at the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company before becoming Vice President of the Income Protection Corporation, an insurance agency, for several years. He then served for three years as Executive and Financial Secretary of the Knights of Columbus, Council 191, in Syracuse. Ray was made an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus, third and fourth degree. He served the County of Onondaga for 32 years in the department of finance, beginning in 1964 as a cashier, serving as a Deputy Commissioner for 10 years, and then in 1980 County Executive John H. Mulroy appointed Ray the Commissioner of Finance, the County's Chief Fiscal Officer. He was reappointed by County Executive Nicholas J. Pirro in 1987 and served until his retirement in October of 1991. Through his work, Ray was a member of the CSEA and the New York State County Treasurers Association. In the community, Ray was past president of the St. Peter's Holy Name Society and was a Director of the holding corporation for Villa Scalabrini, an assisted living home. A member of the Lakeshore Yacht and Country Club for over 30 years where he frequently dined with family and friends, Ray was also a member of the Lincoln Republican Club, serving on its Board of Governors. In retirement, Ray was an active participant of the Strokers, Whiners and Criers Club, aka his Friday luncheon group.
A deeply religious man, Ray enjoyed being with his family, watching the New York Yankees and Syracuse University Football and Basketball games, telling jokes, giving his grandchildren “the business,” and usually serving as the life of the party.
Ray was the only child of Joseph J. and Lucy (Masone) Banach and is survived by his wife of 56 years, Santa (Marra) Banach; two sons, Raymond A. (Linda) Banach Jr. of Liverpool and Robert J. (Michele Parisi) Banach of Chevy Chase, Maryland; three grandchildren, Lyndsey Rae Banach of Boston, Raymond A. Banach III of Liverpool and Richard P. Banach of Maryland. He is also survived by numerous cousins and their descendants as well as several godchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Monday at 12:00 p.m. in the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME and 1:00 p.m. in Our Lady of Pompei / St. Peter Church, 301 Ash Street, Syracuse. Entombment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery Mausoleum. Family and friends may call at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Rd., (corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse, NY on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.
Contributions in Ray's memory can be made to Hospice of CNY (hospicecny.org) or the Upstate Cancer Research Institute Fund #47670 (foundationforupstate.org).
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