Obituary of Raymond James Noper, Sr.

Nopper, Sr., Raymond James, age 82 of Laguna Hills, CA and formerly of Somers, NY died on July 8th after a long history of heart disease. He and his twin brother, Edward were born on January 9th, 1934 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Jane T. (Jarvis) & Emil A. Nopper. He attended St. Pascal’s Baylon Parochial School in Hollis, Queens and Trinity High School in Brooklyn, NY before he enlisted in the Army in September 1952 and served in the Korean War as a Staff Sergeant with the 45th Infantry Thunderbirds and was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic achievement in a combat zone. Raymond returned home and attended both St. John’s University and Fordham University where he received his Bachelor of Arts and Master degrees in Education. A special education reading teacher and tutor for over 41 years, Raymond taught at Lincoln Hall in Somers, NY, Peekskill High School in Peekskill , NY and finally for over 25 years at Mount Pleasant Cottage School and Abbott House in Pleasantville, NY. He married Kathleen R. Reichert on August 8th, 1959 at St. Catherine of Siena R.C. Church in St. Albans, NY and then moved to Purdys, NY for his work and to start a family where he and his wife were longtime communicants of St. Joseph’s Parish in Croton Falls (now Somers), NY. He was predeceased by his wife of 41 years, Kathleen and brothers, Robert and Edward. Raymond is survived by his children, Raymond Jr. (Jodie) of Mission Viejo, CA, Kathleen of Roslindale, MA, Eileen (Leo) of Mahopac, NY, Alison (Ronald) of Mission Viejo, CA and Jennifer (Salvatore) of Fishkill, NY and grandchildren, Ann, Kayla, Sean, Ryan, Thomas and Nicholas as well as several nieces and nephews. Raymond was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, The Third Order Society of St. Francis, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5491, Lake Baldwin Taxpayers Association, as well as holding many coaching positions for his children’s baseball and softball teams. He also served in the Army Reserve for several years as well as being a member of the Honor Guard and VFW chaplain. His family will receive friends on Thursday July 14th from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9pm at Clark Associates Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 15th at 11:30am at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church, 95 Plum Brook Road, Somers, NY. Interment to follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Somers, NY