Raymond K. Nicolletta, 82, of Wethersfield, a very loving and much loved husband of Mildred (Peterson) Nicolletta, died peacefully at home on Friday, February 20, 2015. Born in Cambridge, MA on February 14, 1933 he was the son of the late Peter and Clara (Tangrady) Nicolletta. He attended Cambridge High and Latin School, where he developed his lifelong passion for football. Upon graduation in 1952, Ray received a Full scholarship for football to Boston University. During his Senior season in 1955, Ray was honored by the New England Table of Sportswriters with the Unsung Hero Award. This award is given to a player who has contributed a great deal to his team, but has gone unrecognized. Following his graduation from Boston University in 1955, Ray was inducted into the U.S. Army in June of 1956. Still the athlete, he played service ball in Tokyo, Japan in the fall of 1957. Upon returning to the States, Ray was hired by Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury, CT, where he was appointed Head Coach of Football, in addition to his role as a Social Studies and Physical Education Teacher. In 1963, he was named Athletic Director; under his guidance, Sacred Heart won the Naugatuck Valley League Championship in 1964. In 1966, Ray began a long and distinguished career with Glastonbury High School. Hired first as a Physical Education Teacher, it was Ray’s challenge to initiate the football program. He successfully met this challenge head-on with enthusiasm, perseverance and dedication. In 1968, he fielded Glastonbury’s first varsity team. During Ray’s coaching years from 1966 to 1988, highlights included ushering the team to winning the Central Valley Conference title in 1974, and being named Coach of the Year by the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, Northern Ct Chapter. In addition to football, Ray was the Head Coach of wrestling for three years, leading the team to the CIAC Eastern Division Championship in 1973. In 1983, Ray was appointed Director of Athletics. During his tenure as Athletic Director of Glastonbury High School. 16 teams have been added to the athletic program-4 varsity and 12 sub varsity teams. Over the years, Ray’s accomplishments have been many: in 1995 he received the first Letter of Commendation presented to an Athletic Director by the Connecticut Association of Schools (CRS); 1996-97, he was the recipient of the Commissioner’s Award presented by the I.A.A.B.O, Central Connecticut District Board #6. In 1997, Ray was inducted into the New England Secondary Principals Association Wrestling Hall of Fame- Administrative category. That same year, Ray received the State Award of Merit, given by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. Most recently, Ray was honored with the Athletic Director of the Year Award, presented by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) 1997. He has worked closely with the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) in promoting Connecticut High School Athletics. He has served as CARD Consultant to the State Soccer Committee from 1986 to 1994, and has continued to serve as a CARD Consultant to the State Football Committee since 1994. Under his direction, Glastonbury has hosted many state tournaments and most CIAC sponsored sports. Glastonbury High School has the distinction of having hosted the New England High School Wrestling Tournament more often than any other New England State, a tribute to the outstanding Glastonbury Booster Club and the entire community. In addition to his wife Mildred, Ray leaves his sister, Claire Patricia Davidson and two grandchildren, Meghan Anne Nicolletta and Zachary Nicolletta. Ray was predeceased by his daughter Kristi Anne Nicolletta and his son Marc Raymond Nicolletta, as well as his brothers and sisters, Patrick, Elizabeth, Nicholas, Joanne, Mary and Elaine. The Nicolletta family would like to thank the Hartford Hospital Center for Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant, especially to Nicole Huhn, APRN, Tari Devoe, RN and Nicole Chomick, RN, as well as all the wonderful Cardiac Nurses on Bliss 9 and all the PCA’s who were so kind and caring to Ray.
Friends and relatives may call at the Farley Sullivan Funeral Home, 34 Beaver Rd. Wethersfield, CT on Thursday February 26, 2015 from 5-8pm. The funeral will be held Friday, February 27, 2015 at 9:00 from the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in the Church of the Incarnation, 544 Prospect St. Wethersfield, CT. Burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, 453 Fairfield Ave. Hartford, CT. To extend online condolences, directions or to light a memorial candle, please visit Farleysullivan.com.