Raymond Gerald LaPlaca - Obituary

aymond G. LaPlaca, 79, a resident of Edgewater, MD for 17 years and formerly of Mitchellville, MD, and Cheverly, MD, died on April 22, 2017, in Ft. Myers, FL. Born on May 1, 1937, in Washington, DC to the late Joseph and Marie LaPlaca, Ray graduated from Gonzaga College High School. He then attended Catholic University, and later graduated from the University of Maryland Law School. He served in the US Army where he attained the rank of Specialist 3rd Class. Ray was a partner in the Upper Marlboro law firm of Knight, Manzi, Nussbaum & LaPlaca, P.A. He was a general partner of Carrollton Enterprises. Before that Raymond was the President of Creative Mailing Consultants of America (CMCA). He was a former Director of the Columbia Bank of Maryland. Raymond was formerly an active member of several boards of directors for associations including, Past President of the Bonnie Johns Children Fund, the Greater Washington Board of Trade and a former member of the Federal City Council. Ray was past chairman of the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland at College Park, a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland School of Law, Chairman Emeritus of the University System of Maryland Foundation, Board of Directors of the University of Maryland Medical System Shock Trauma Center, Board of Directors of Canton Railroad Company and he served on the Governor's Commission on Education, Finance, Equity, and Excellence. Ray taught Counseling and Negotiation at the University of Maryland School of Law from 1993 to 1995. From 1975 to 1979 he was vice chairman of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. In 1982, he was chairman of the Washington Suburban Transit Commission and a board member of the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority. Ray received the Caritas Award from the Archdiocese of Washington, the Distinguished Contribution to Improved Human Relations Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Outstanding Public Service Award from the Board of Education of Prince George’s County and the Legacy of Excellence Award from Bowie State University. He received the St. Aloysius Medal from Gonzaga College High School. Ray was a member of St. John XXIII Catholic Church, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, and the Prince George's County Republican Party. He also was a home visitation volunteer in Anne Arundel County, and he enjoyed playing golf, tennis, bridge and doing crossword puzzles. Ray was preceded in death by his sister, Rosalie and his brother Joseph. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Rose LaPlaca; his children, Daniel (Pearl) of Owings, MD, Patricia of Havre de Grace, MD, Donna of Indianapolis, IN and Christine (Peter) of Carmel, IN; his sisters, Mary Therese of Preston, MD and Frances of Silver Spring, MD; his grandchildren, James and Scott O'Keefe, Casey, Jack, J. Brooke and Aldea Sullivan, Luke, Kathleen, Sadie and Mary Burrows, Jonathan and Andrew Morrissette, and Raymond and Natalie LaPlaca. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren. Friends are invited to celebrate Ray's life on Friday, May 12 from 5 to 7 pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, May 13 at 9 am at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 109 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis, MD. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Gonzaga College High School, 19 Eye Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20001. Condolences may be made online by visiting the link on this page.