Jack Bond Raymond

Jack Bond Raymond March 18, 1947 - December 17, 2025 Jack , a ninth-generation Rowayton native, passed away at the age of 78. Born to Frank E. Raymond and Esther Bond Raymond, Jack’s life was deeply rooted in the town he loved and served so faithfully. Jack attended Rowayton’s local public schools and graduated from Brien McMahon High School in 1965. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Commerce from Rider University in 1970. Growing up in Rowayton, Jack fulfilled what he often considered a quintessential local rite of passage in 1970—working on the town’s garbage truck and joining the Rowayton Hose Company. His time on the garbage route lasted several years and gave him an unmatched knowledge of every street in Rowayton and the names of many residents. What began as youthful ambition at the Rowayton Hose Company grew into a lifelong devotion. Over the years, Jack proudly served in many roles including Firefighter, Steward, Treasurer, Chief Engineer, and President. Jack’s dedication to volunteer firefighting extended beyond Rowayton. He also served as President and Treasurer of the Norwalk Volunteer Firemen’s Association, known as “The Big Eight,” which included Silvermine, Rowayton, Mayflower, Phoenix, Putnam, Old Well, Hope, and Pioneer—companies that served all of Norwalk prior to the establishment of the paid fire department. Today, the Rowayton Hose Company remains the only active volunteer fire organization left in Norwalk, a fact Jack was deeply proud of. Jack’s commitment to community service extended far beyond the firehouse. He served on the board of the Rowayton Historical Society and served as President of the Rowayton Union Cemetery, a role that reflected both his respect for Rowayton’s past and his sense of responsibility to its future. Serving on the board of Boy Scout Troop 2 he helped many young boys advance in rank and was proud to have his son Jake achieve the highest rank of Eagle.

Coming from a sailing family that owned the nation’s oldest sailmaking firm, Hathaway, Reiser and Raymond, Jack’s life was equally defined by the water. He began working as a launch operator at the Norwalk Yacht Club, advancing his US Coast Guard licensing credentials to become a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer. As a Third Officer with American Canadian Cruise Line, Jack participated in an extraordinary voyage that circumnavigated the eastern United States—traveling down Long Island Sound, up the Hudson River, through the Erie Canal to Buffalo, across the Great Lakes to Chicago, down the Illinois, Ohio,and Mississippi Rivers to St. Petersburg, Florida, across Lake Okeechobee, and north along the Intracoastal Waterway to the Chesapeake Bay. He returned to serve for Ole Skaarup, a respected leader in the maritime industry. Jack crewed in many prestigious East Coast sailing races, including Block Island (Eddie Gaynor), Bermuda Race aboard the Corina (Wall Street family Nye), Ruskin family (Pepperidge Farms), Vineyard Races aboard Chantyman along side Uncle Edgar Raymond, as well as many boat owners requesting the factory team at Hathaway, Reiser and Raymond. Professionally, Jack worked at Greenwich Cove Marine where he operated tugboats and learned marine construction. He then joined the Gardella family at Norwalk Cove Marina, where he dedicated over 50 years of service. Remarkably, Jack retired just two weeks before his passing. In 1990, Jack married Lori Vento, whom he had known for years through her work as Show Manager for the Norwalk Boat Show at Norwalk Cove Marina and the New York Boat Show at the Javits Center. Along with Carl Ryan and Tom Wilson from Cove Marina they were hired to manage move-in and move-out operations for major boat shows, including the Miami International Boat Show. Their exceptional boat-handling skills—particularly placing vessels over 60 feet long within inches of exhibitor spaces—were widely respected throughout the industry. Jack and Lori lived in Rowayton directly across the street from the house Jack grew up in. Their home built by Lori’s father, Edward Vento, with help from her brother Edward, Jack and Lori raised their two children there. Jack is survived by his wife, Lori, son Jake and daughter Jenny, First Cousin Bobbie Murray (Tom), Brother in-law Edward Vento (Ana), Sister-in law Leslie Vento (Chad Licht) and loving nieces, nephews, cousins and long time friends especially Tim Wagner, Ed Carlson and Arthur “Otis” Ladrigan. Services will be private with burial at the Rowayton Union Cemetery alongside his parents and other Raymond relatives. If desired, donations in his memory can be sent to Historic Rowayton https://www.historicrowayton.org/join-donate, P.O. Box 106 Rowayton, CT. 06853 or Rowayton Union Cemetery, Grounds Maintenance, c/o Jenny Raymond, 5 Pond St. Rowayton, CT. 06853.