Ray DiBattista

DiBattista, Raymond, Eugene "Ray", 91, Windber, passed away September 11, 2021 at Richland Woods. He was born September 28, 1929 in Windber, PA, son of the late Vincenzo and Gilda (Tucci) DiBattista.  Preceded in death by brother, James and sisters, Vera Jaketic and Amelia Romano.  Survived by nephews and nieces, Ronald Jaketic, married to Suzanne, New Jersey; Dennis Jaketic; Debora Keighley, married to Robert,Ohio; and Lauren (Romano) Miller of Johnstown, PA.  Also survived by his extended family of 50 years, Barry and Elizabeth Jerley of Windber, PA; and by numerous great nieces and nephews. Raymond was a graduate to Windber Area High School, University of Pittsburgh and the University of North Carolina School of Public Health.  He dedicated his life to community service through many venues:  as a member of the Windber Area School Board for 16 years where he served as president and secretary, was an incorporator of the Windber Medical Center as a Community Hospital where he served as a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board for 38 years, was a member of the Windber Borough Council for 12 years, was a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, he served as President of the Windber Area Public Library, was President of the Abruzzi Lodge 248 where he served as President, was President of the Johnstown Joseph Johns Lodge; he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Conemaugh Medical Center for 35 years and served as the Vice Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Patient Care & Education and the Finance Committees, he then served for 3 years as Chairman of the Conemaugh Health System Board of Directors, and served as a member of the Meyersdale/Miner Hospital Board of Directors. During this service, Ray successfully chaired “The Campaign For Healthy Futures” for the Conemaugh Health Foundation, a $10 million fund effort in 2001 to 2006.  For more than 8 years he served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra.  Ray was a devout Catholic and faithful member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Windber where he served as a Lector, Cantor and Eucharistic Minster.  He was a member of Altoona-Johnstown Diocese Annual Catholic Appeal Campaign Committee and was General Chairperson for the $2.5 million campaign in 2006.  He was a member of the Windber Area Authority for 10 years.  Ray was co-founder of United Metal Fabricators, Inc., which manufactured hospital equipment for Doctor offices and Hospitals which were sold world wide.  He was President of the company for 5 years until it was sold in 1994. At times, the company employed nearly 200 local persons and operated two plant locations. Following his university studies Ray was employed for 10 years in PA Department of Health, Bureau of Environmental Sciences. Raymond established several scholarship foundations such as the Windber Area Christian Forensic Foundation of St. Anthony, The Ray DiBattista Charitable Trust and a charitable remainder trust to benefit charitable activities at St. Francis University, Loretto. Ray was a Laureate of the Johnstown Cambria County Business Hall of Fame in 2008. Friends received from 2 to 4 & 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 15th at Meek & Dalla Valle Funeral Home of Windber, where vigil service will be held. Funeral mass will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 16th at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Windber, Fr. Rod. Committal Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to Windber Hospice in memory of Ray. www.meekfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ray DiBattista, please visit our floral store.