Raymond P. Nethercott: U.S. military vet, contractor and volunteer fireman

July 4, 2024 at 12:37 a.m.

Raymond P. Nethercott, 92, a longtime resident of Rye Brook, died June 26, 2024.

He was born Sept. 22, 1931 in Port Chester to Robert and Anne Curtis Nethercott who predeceased him.

He was raised and educated in Port Chester, graduating from Port Chester High School.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955 and served in the Marines and in the Navy proudly as a SeaBee.

Mr. Nethercott was a contractor who worked for Fairchester Builders in Pleasantville until his retirement and previously worked for P.W. Nethercott Stone Masons in Port Chester.

He was married to Loretta Touri on Sept. 25, 1954 at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Port Chester.

He was a 67-year member of Washington Engine & Hose Co. #4 of the Port Chester Volunteer Fire Department and was the company's past president.

He was also a member of the Port Chester Old Timers Association and was the pitcher for the Washington Engine & Hose softball team for over 50 years.

To know Ray was to love him; he made you feel like you were the most special person in the world.

The Nethercott family is famous for their legendary clambakes, and Ray was probably the best clam shucker of all time.

He loved his family above all else; his most cherished memories were of spending summers in Chatham on the Cape, fishing with his grandchildren and sitting on the beach surrounded by his family enjoying a beverage and tons of laughs—that was what he lived for.

He would never pass up a dessert; he loved his lottery scratchers and was an avid reader and incredible history buff.

Every family get-together would include the toast "this is what it's all about." He was truly one of a kind and will be missed every day.

He is survived by his beloved wife Loretta Nethercott of Rye Brook, sons Paul Nethercott and his wife Tammy of Amenia, N.Y. and Wayne Nethercott and his fiancée Melissa of Brunswick, N.Y.; daughter Laura Basso and her husband Gary of Rye; grandchildren Griffin Basso, Jordan Basso, Ethan Basso, Tommy Nethercott (Lauren), Liam Nethercott, Andrew Nethercott, Katherine Nethercott, Shane Nethercott and Kyle Nethercott; great-grandchild Callen Nethercott; sister Jane DeGraw of Oregon and brother-in-law Austin "Audie" DeBell of Port Chester.

He was predeceased by his brothers John Nethercott, Richard Nethercott, Thomas Nethercott and Lawrence Nethercott and sisters Linda DeBell, Anne Ravenda and Regina Nethercott.

A funeral service was held Tues., July 2 at Craft Memorial Home, Inc. in Port Chester, followed by interment at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Rye Brook.

Condolences to the family may be left at www.craftmemorialhome.com