Richard A. Raffa
Richard A. Raffa died on May 21 at Greenwich Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born in Greenwich on Nov. 1, 1941. As a child Richard moved with his parents, Frank Raffa Sr. and Rose Fitchben Raffa, to Port Chester. He attended Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School and Port Chester High School. After graduating from high school in 1959, he enlisted in the Connecticut Army National Guard.
Upon release from active duty in 1960, Richard went to work at the Port Chester branch of Mahopac Furniture Company, which his father had opened in the late 1950’s. By 1972 when the two branches separated, he became treasurer and later vice-president of Raffa’s Towne Furniture, Inc.
In 1996 he and his partners downsized Raffa’s Towne Furniture and developed their real estate business through their corporation, Frank Raffa, Inc. Raffa’s Towne Furniture closed in 2007. Richard was currently vice-president and treasurer of Frank Raffa, Inc., and played an active role in the company’s day-to-day operation.
He lived in Cos Cob for the last several years of his life. Richard was a loving and devoted husband, the absolute best brother, and a good friend. He was a devout Catholic and enjoyed helping others.
Richard loved automobiles, especially his 1993 GMC Yukon truck. He also loved animals, and enjoyed gardening, traveling and carpentry. He picked up woodworking at the age of 13, and was an expert maker and repairer of furniture.
He will be missed by many, especially his wife and family. He was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his devoted wife, Jacqueline Curcio Raffa; his brother Frank P. Raffa, Jr.; his sister, Carol Raffa Guss, and her husband Dr. Stephen H. Guss; and by his brothers-in-law Louis, Rick, and Robert Curcio; sisters-in-law Marilyn White, Loren White, and Sandra Rattray; and a nephew
and several nieces.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) or Adopt-a-Dog in Greenwich (www.adopt-a-dog.org).
After a funeral mass at St. Catherine’s Church in Riverside on May 29, Richard was buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery on North Street.