Updated: Mon 7:07 PM, Jun 25, 2012
April 16, 1939 – June 18, 2012
Raymond E. Petrillo, 73, of Albuquerque, N.M., died peacefully at home Monday, June 18, 2012, after a long battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, June 29, 2012 at First Christian Church, 10101 Montgomery Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111.
Raymond was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. April 16, 1939 to Alberico and Amalia (Iannotti) Petrillo. He studied piano at the Juilliard School of Music, was awarded two consecutive Fullbright Scholarships to study abroad in Italy, and earned a PhD in Italian Literature from Rutgers University. He was also a perennial student of life through the time of his passing.
Raymond taught Italian Language and Literature at various colleges and universities, most recently at Texas A&M University. A published author of multiple books and articles, Raymond's most recent major publication was Contrappunti / Counterpoints, a selection of the poetry and prose of his friend Giovanni Cecchetti, which Raymond translated from the original Italian.
After retiring from academia, Raymond was most interested in returning to his first love, music, spending much of his time preparing and performing classical repertoires, and serving the Lord with his music at First Christian Church in Albuquerque.
Survivors include his wife, Valerie; and sons, Jonathan of Albuquerque, N.M., Julian and wife Monika; and grandchildren, Louisa and Ben of South Pasadena, Calif.
