WESTERLY — Raphael “Ray” Joseph Castaldi, 67, of Westerly, sorrowfully passed May 17, 2022, after an arduous fight with a liposarcoma. The last six months have been long and laborious for Ray and his loved ones, but his passing was peaceful with family at his bedside. He was born in Washington, D.C., to Helen Castaldi and the late Joseph Castaldi.
If you know Ray, you know he was a man of the people...many people. He will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Sandra, eldest daughter Stephanie (Jack) Szczepanki, of Ewing, N.J.; son Joseph (Mia) Castaldi of Westerly, and youngest daughter, Elizabeth Castaldi of Newport. Ray was also an energetic and dedicated grandfather to three spirited grandsons, Andy, Enzo and Emmett. He was sadly predeceased by granddaughter Callie Mae. Family always came first with Ray. Being the eldest of four, he became a leader at a young age. His late brother David (Gina) Castaldi of Hamden, Conn., sisters Joanne (Arti) Dixson of Orange, Conn., and Mary Beth Castaldi-Bowerman of North Haven, Conn., always looked up to Ray. They grew up playing “Mass” together where Ray would present Necco Wafers to each sibling in the communion line at home. Faith has always been important to Ray because his father was an ordained deacon in the Catholic Church. Ray earned his undergraduate degree at Quinnipiac University and a master’s degree in theology at Providence College. He then followed in his father’s footsteps when he was ordained a deacon at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in 2013.
If you were ever looking for Ray, he could be found at the golf course, boogie boarding at Westerly Town Beach, leading the faith at Saint Mary’s or Saint James Chapel, enjoying a Bellini at the Cooked Goose, jogging at Wilcox Park, attending a show at PPAC with his wife, loudly cheering at Providence College basketball games, or spending quality time with his children and grandchildren. Ray had a plethora of talents and hobbies in addition to his self-made business, Castaldi Financial Solutions. He focused on wealth management, getting to know clients on a personal level and lived by his famous slogan: “plan well, live well.” Whether it be a family member, friend, client, parishioner, or acquaintance, every person he encountered said Ray made their life a little better. He was a walking ray of sunshine.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Saint James Chapel 2079 Matunuck School House Road, Charlestown, on Saturday May 21.
