LATHAM – Raymond J. Hess, III, 64, died on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at St. Peter’s Hospice Inn with his family by his side.
Born in Troy, Ray was the son of the late Raymond J. Hess, Jr. and Loretta E. Finn Hess. He was raised in Watervliet and Latham and was a 1973 graduate of Shaker High School. Ray owned Hess’s Bar in Watervliet and in 1980 worked with his father at Tri-City Lanes in Menands. In 1992 he began a career with the New York State Senate in Albany. Referred to as the “64th Senator” Ray was well known in the senate and was thought of fondly by many there. Over the course of his 25 years career, Ray was proud to have served each of the State Senators with grace and dignity. He retired on June 7th of this year.
Ray was a life-long member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and was past president and member of the William F. Fennelly Division # 1 AOH in Watervliet.
He was an avid NY Jets fan and enjoyed the times he spent with his family and at home where he loved to care for his lawn.
He was the much loved husband, for 37 years, of Jeryl J. (Bodo) Hess; cherished father of Raymond J. (Christine S.) Hess, IV and Richard J. Hess; brother of Robert J. Hess of Niskayuna and the late Mary Diane and Ronald J. Hess; nephew of Leona Finn (late William) of North Greenbush; son in law of the late Russell J. and Carole A. Bodo; brother-in-law of Cheryl Bodo, Stephen Bodo, Jami Bodo, Jacqueline Vincent (Ron) and the late Thomas Bodo as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins, his late faithful canine companion Izzy and a host of close friends.

Ray’s family extends a heartfelt thank you to the nurses and staff of both Albany Medical Center and St. Peter’s Hospice Inn and to Dr. David Shaffer for the wonderful care given to Ray over the course of his illness.

Ray’s funeral will be held on Tuesday at 9:30 am from the Parker Bros. Memorial in Watervliet and will proceed to St. Ambrose Church in Latham where at 10:30 am the Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Reverend Brian Kelly, pastor. The rite of committal and interment will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Watervliet. Friends are invited to attend and may also visit with Ray’s family on Monday from 3 until 8 PM at the funeral home. To those who wish to remember Ray in a special way, his family suggests donations to the Chief Thomas McCormack Burnout Fund, 116-13th Street, Watervliet, NY 12189 to assist families who suffer a loss due to a fire.

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