Uncrowned Community Builders

A native of Rochester, New York, Raymond graduated from James Madison High School before entering the Air Force. He served four years in the military. He moved to Buffalo to attend Buffalo State College graduating with a degree in art education in 1967.
Mr. Read taught in the Buffalo Public Schools for over 30 years. In taught in schools 87, 77, 71, 44, 19, South Park and Burgard Vocational high schools. He taught a wide range of subjects including art, drama, math and social studies and was a homeroom coordinator. He also was the director of orientation for Camp Kissing Bridge from 1972-1977.
In 1988 he was named the Buffalo School District Teacher of the Year. The following year, he was a finalist for state Teacher of the Year. He retired in 1996.
Mr. Read was a member of the Buffalo Quarters Historical Society, the National committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, African Cultural Negro Ensemble and the Black Central Educators Association. He also served as executive board member, chairman and vice chairman of the Buffalo Inner City Ballet, and was a co-founder of the Crusaders Marching Drill Unit. He was a member of the Experimental Jazz Center, the Western New York Institute for the Arts and the Eastside Coalition of the Arts. Mr. Read was an artist who also loved to cook.
He was a member of Church of God and Saints of Christ. He had one sister Miriam Roberts of Rochester and four brothers, Isaac Reed of Greensboro N.C., Clarence of Colorado Springs, Jesse of Brockport and Edward of Williamson, and an adopted brother, Willie Simmons, Jr. of Buffalo. He was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Rochester New York.