Raymond "Ray" Joseph Capobianco, 93, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully
on May 7, 2025. Born on January 13, 1932, to Adeline and Raymond Capobianco of Newton,
Massachusetts. After graduating from Newton High School in 1950 and Massachusetts Radio
School in 1957, Ray went on to earn his undergraduate degree in engineering from Northeastern
University in 1968. Ray served in the U.S. Army as a wave radio operator in Germany during the
Korean War from 1953 to 1955. Ray had a range of jobs from selling dog food in Needham to
serving as a product manager for Tracer Lab in industrial nuclear electronics. In 1961, Ray
started his 30-year career as a project quality assurance manager for reconnaissance systems for
NASA and the U.S. Defense Department at Itek Optical Systems Corporation.
Ray is best known for his love for fishing and hunting. He was an active member of Trout
Unlimited, Fin Fur & Feather Club in Millis, and the Needham Sportsman's Club where he was
recognized by his peers as Sportsman of the Year in 2024. He extensively chronicled the history
of the club for over sixty years and was instrumental in securing and orchestrating the annual
stocking of brook trout in the club's pond. Ray was a master craftsman making fly rods and tying
flies while buying and selling antique fishing tackle.
Ray was a beacon of strength in his community. He was a devoted parishioner at St. John the
Evangelist Church where he served as an usher and member of several committees. Everyone
who met Ray loved him. He was engaging, thoughtful and always had a story to tell. He lived
life to the fullest and especially loved spending time with his family and friends.
Ray married Mary "Mae" Ellen Finnigan in 1958 and moved to Wellesley in 1962 where they
raised six children: Nancy Pendleton of Ashland, Ann (Jeff) Thurber of Ashland, Brenda (Jim
Lehman) Capobianco of West Lafayette, Indiana, Patricia Capobianco of Clinton, Paula (Dennis
Roethlisberger) Capobianco of Charlottesville, Virginia and Tom (Tia) Capobianco of Falmouth,
Massachusetts, four granddaughters and one grandson, two nieces and two nephews, as well as
countless beloved cousins and dear friends.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 13th from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the Henry J. Burke and
Sons Funeral Home, 56 Washington St., Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts. A Mass of Christian
Burial will be celebrated at 10:00am on Wednesday, May 14th at St. John the Evangelist Church
9 Glen Rd., Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts followed by interment in St. Mary's Cemetery,
Needham, Massachusetts.
Services will be livestreamed at https://sjspwellesley.org/sj/live/
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the St. John – St. Paul Catholic
Collaborative 9 Glen Rd., Wellesley, MA 02481 or website: https://sjspwellesley.org and St.
Benedict Abbey of Harvard, 252 Still River Rd., Harvard, MA 01451 or website: abbey.org