Raymond J. Dionne
Raymond J. Dionne 1939-2021 WINSLOW – Raymond J. Dionne of Winslow died peacefully at home with his family on May 6, 2021 at the age of 81. Ray was born on November 23, 1939 to Adele and Augustin Dionne von. born Waterville. Ray attended Waterville Schools and enjoyed a variety of sports, particularly hockey. As a young boy, Ray often served as an altar boy at 6 o’clock mass at Blessed Sacrament Church on Silver Street at the urging of his mother. After graduating from Waterville High School in 1957, Ray attended the Maine Maritime Academy. Graduated with a BS in marine engineering in 1960, eventually advancing to chief engineer. The day after graduation, Ray traveled to New York City and was immediately hired by American Export Isbrandtson Lines and was at sea within 24 hours aboard the USS Independence and later the USS Exiria. In 1963, Ray was recruited to take a nuclear reactor operator course at King’s Point and later to be trained aboard the NS Savannah in Galveston, Texas. Here he earned his Senior Nuclear Operators License and soon sailed aboard the Savannah. The ship was greeted with fanfare in many ports and attended by kings and dignitaries, many of whom taught Ray and his shipmates about the peaceful uses of nuclear power. American Export Lines signed a contract with Bath Iron Works to build container ships in 1966 and hired Ray as Resident Inspector of New Construction to oversee the construction of the Seawitch, Staghound and Lighting. Ray then moved to Italy with his family to oversee the construction of the taeping at the Italcantieri shipyard. Upon returning to his Bath home, Ray continued to work on newbuildings at BIW, where he worked for Farrell Lines container ships and State Lines roll-on roll-off ships. In 1980 Ray moved to the Philips Petroleum Company in Bartlesville, OK, where he was the fleet superintendent of oil tankers and was responsible for building new tankers and liquefied natural gas ships in China. In the autumn of 1992-93, Ray moved to Monaco as production manager to oversee the conversion of a tanker into a floating production and storage ship. 1993-1994, the Ray tanker project led to ship conversion to Singapore. Ray then moved to Norway, where he worked with the tanker fleet and the associated work on oil platforms until his retirement. Ray retired from Philips in 1995 but rejoined the workforce shortly thereafter to work for Tycom Reliance as assistant director of newbuildings on cable-laying vessels in Singapore. Ray’s great love was for his family and left behind his wife Mary and six children: Kelly (Bruce) Dionne-Yahr, Karen Dionne (Tim Neville), Kathy Dionne (Brian Beard), Kristin Dionne (Rob Katz), Karolyn (Tom) Dreiling, Michael Dionne (Jennifer Grant), six grandchildren: Tommy, Peter, Addie, Davis, Leah and Sari, his brother Jim (Nancy) Dionne and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Ray had already passed away from his sisters Stella Pelletier, Geraldine Quirion, Robbie Dumont and Joan Gurney. Ray was a calm, kind and gentle man with a lovely smile, quick wit and great sense of humor. He is very much missed by everyone who knew and loved him. The arrangements are managed and supervised by Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville. An online guest book can be signed, condolences and reminders can be shared at http://www.gallantfh.com In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Maine Maritime Academy at 1 Pleasant Street, Castine, ME 04420 or Maine General in lieu of flowers Hospice, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903
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