Longtime Burrillville building official dies at age 67

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A town resident who has served for more than 25 years as Burrillville’s building and zoning official died this week at the age of 67.

Joseph Raymond passed peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 24, surrounded by family and loved ones, according to his obituary with Boucher Funeral Home.

Raymond was the husband of Janet (Lapierre) Raymond and father of Adam Hall, Joseph Raymond, Kerri Hall, Laura (Raymond) Schatz, and Philip Raymond. Born in Providence to the late Joseph Raymond and Meredith (McGlinchey) Raymond, he was the third of nine children raised on the woodsy acres of the, “Raymond Ponderosa,” on Spring Lake Road in Burrillville.

He graduated from LaSalle Academy in 1973 and later attended Rhode Island College, before he began work as a carpenter and general contractor with under his teacher and mentor, the late Lucien Lavallee.

Raymond was appointed as the building official for the town of Burrillville in 1996, a position he would hold for the next 27 years, up to his passing. He was actively involved in many committees, including the New England Building Officials Education Association, and was chairman of the RI By-Laws & Policies Committee.

Among Raymond’s professional accomplishments was his extensive work to help the town in opposition to construction of a proposed power plant.

“Joe worked countless hours of his own time, sometimes staying overnight at his office to respond to deadlines,” his obituary states, noting the proposal was ultimately defeatedly in June of 2019.

In addition to his wife, Raymond is survived by his son Adam and wife Patricia Hall, Joseph and wife Trinidad Raymond, daughter Kerri Hall and her son Cayden Closson, Laura and husband Adam Schatz and their children Julie and Daniel, and son Philip and wife Kelli and their children McKenzie and Harper.

He is also survived by his brother Brian and Kathleen Raymond of San Antonio, Texas, Stephen and Jeanne Raymond of Providence, Susan and Ken Oliveira of East Providence, Judith Fontaine and partner Joe Chabot of Woonsocket, Brenda Pump of Woonsocket, Mary Blanchard and partner Seth Levenson of Woonsocket, Melissa Raymond of North Smithfield and Peter Raymond of North Smithfield.

Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours on Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Boucher Funeral Home, 272 Sayles Ave. Pascoag. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 11 a.m. in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Raymond’s name to the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber Cancer Institute through the Pan-Mass Challenge here.

Raymond’s full obituary can be found here.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Joe was an invaluable asset to the Town of Burrillville not only as the town’s Building Inspector but also as a model resident of the community in which he lived. He spent countless days performing inspections and making sure that the town’s needs were met in addition to volunteering his time with the RI Housing Resource Committee, all on his day’s off. Over the years there were many times I would bump into Joe checking out job sites on a Sunday afternoon, on a holiday, or see the lights in his office burning on a Friday night. I hope that the town can eventually fill the shoes of this man who had an incredible work ethic as well as an undying sense of community.

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