Raymond DeSimas passed away on July 5, 2025 at 92, following a life well lived. Submitted photo.
Raymond DeSimas
Raymond DeSimas of Fairhaven passed away July 5, 2025 at 92, following a life well lived.
He was the devoted son of the late Joseph DeSimas and Louise (Mello) DeSimas.
Ray was born in Dartmouth, and was raised in New Bedford on the family farm on Hathaway Road; later living on Deane Street in New Bedford, Jason’s Road Rochester, but spent most of his life in Acushnet on Mendall Road. He cleared the property, built his home as well as the many stone walls, and maintained it for over 40 years. It was his lifelong passion. His later years living next to his daughter, son and their families in Fairhaven.
He enjoyed agriculture, raising grapes and blueberries, and had a very large garden for many years. For several years Ray sold Christmas trees raised on his property.
Ray was the foreman at Keith Box Company in Acushnet for many years and later owned his own business, Stonehill Farm Landscaping until his retirement.
He was a proud veteran of the Korean War and served in Korea from 1952 to 1954, attaining the rank of Corporal in the 1931st 30 Ordnance Company. One of his fondest memories was in 2017 when he participated in the Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight “Papa”. The group flew to Washington DC and visited many War memorials. Ray was a member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Ray enjoyed boxing in his youth and competed in the Amateur Bermuda Boxing Association under the name “Ray Steele”. His other lifelong passion was Pigeon Racing which he did for many years with his father Joe. As members of the New Bedford Racing Pigeon Club, and later with his son John as a member of the Fall River Racing Pigeon Club, the DeSimas and Son Loft won many races, including 500 mile races.
He was an avid horse rider, owning many different horses over his lifetime. In earlier years, Ray enjoyed camping and attending Fairs with the family.
Survivors include his daughter Debra Duff, her husband Robert Duff of Fairhaven; son John DeSimas, his companion Carol Medeiros of Fairhaven; a grandson James DeSimas of Los Angeles, CA, 3 step grandchildren, Jayme, Michelle, and Kristina. He was the brother of the late Joseph, Walter, Manuel, Frederick DeSimas, Dorothy Meister, Louise Russell, and many beloved nieces and nephews living throughout the United States. He was the former husband of Beatrice Johnson, with whom he shared a lifelong friendship.
Ray was always grateful to the New Bedford VA Medical Clinic for the many years of outstanding medical care and grateful to the staff for their commitment to veterans’ healthcare, especially Josh and Dr. Nye.
Ray’s Family would like to extend their thanks to the VA Homecare Professionals, Southcoast VNA, and FCP Live-in, especially his home health care provider Loretta, for all their efforts and care in assisting him to live independently at home.
Additionally, they are grateful to the caring and supportive staff of the Southcoast VNA Hospice staff, the dedicated staff at the Royal in Fairhaven.
In accordance with Family wishes, services and the burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at stjude.org.
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