It is with great sadness and a sense of loss that Long Island Crisis Center mourns the passing of Board of Directors Member, Ray Kenny, due to complications from COVID-19.

Ray first came to the Crisis Center in 2015 to become a volunteer Crisis Counselor. After nine months of training, he went on the hotlines and was an outstanding Counselor. His natural compassion and empathy gave him the capacity to truly be a life-saver for those in crisis.

In mid-2017, Ray became a member of our Board of Directors. He brought his expertise in business operations and his philanthropy to this position and was a tremendous asset to the Board. He was both admired and respected by his fellow Board members who reacted with shock and sadness to the news of his passing.

Ray Kenny was a modest man and didn’t talk much about his professional accomplishments. He held three Masters degrees and was pursuing a doctorate in emergency management. Over his more than 40-year career at the Long Island Rail Road, he had worked himself up from a ticket clerk to Acting President of the LIRR and retired in 2014 in the position of Senior Vice President of Operations. Colleagues at the railroad, in describing Ray, used phrases like “a true railroader who worked his way through the ranks and became a legend in the railroad industry,” “Kenny’s knowledge and commitment to this industry were second to none,” “a beloved, gentle soul,” “Ray’s reputation and experience in the industry are unparalleled.”

After his retirement in 2014, Ray was a consultant in the private sector. In 2019, NJ Transit hired Ray Kenny as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Operations.

Ray Kenny touched many lives. He leaves behind a loving family, an outstanding record of professional accomplishments and a reputation as a philanthropist.

Long Island Crisis Center Executive Director, Theresa Buhse, stated, “If you ask anybody at the Crisis Center about Ray Kenny, the first thing they say is that ‘Ray was a good man with a kind and gentle soul.’ He will truly be missed and we all send our sympathy and condolences to his family.”

Ray’s family has asked that those wishing to make a contribution in his honor and memory, do so to Long Island Crisis Center, 2740 Martin Ave., Bellmore, NY 11710 or by clicking here:

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