Ray J. Sapp (March 13, 1962 - July 11, 2015)
HARTLAND, VT Ray J. Sapp, 53, originally of South Portland, ME and a long-time resident and community member of Hartford & Hartland, VT, passed away Saturday evening, July 11 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH surrounded by loving members of his family.
Born on March 13, 1962 at the Army Medical Base in Aza-Kuwae, Chatan-son, Okinawa, Japan. Ray returned to the states before his first birthday moving to Air Force Bases, first in New York and then Montana. Summer vacations were long road trips home to Portland, ME to visit family. Ray moved with his mom and sister back to Portland to live with his grandparents while his father served in Vietnam. The family was reunited and stationed in Florida until 1971 when at age 9, Ray's family settled for good in South Portland, ME. His dad left to serve the last tour of his military career in Germany and retired from the Air Force in 1973.
Ray spent the rest of his youth in South Portland. He was very close to both his parents' extended family and spent lots of time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and dozens of cousins in the Portland & South Portland area. Ray's fondest memories were those of his shenanigans during his grade and middle school years and the honor of playing for the South Portland Red Riots state championship varsity basketball team in 1979 & 80. Ray graduated from South Portland High School in 1981.
Ray attended Thomas College in Waterville, ME for a semester before returning back home for part time studies at the University of Southern Maine and a job at the Scott Paper Mill in Westbrook. With renewed confidence and some savings Ray returned to Thomas College in 1983 to continue his education and to play basketball. This is also when he met his future wife Sandy. Ray graduated from Thomas College with a degree in Liberal Arts in 1985, then enlisted in the Air National Guard and headed off to basic training in San Antonio, TX.
Ray and Sandy were married in South Portland, Maine on March 21st, 1987 residing first in Rockland and then Waldoboro, ME. Ray worked for several years as a painting sub-contractor and then as the Mill and Warehouse Manager for A.E. Sampson & Son. He continued to serve at the Air National Guard Station in South Portland, ME and play men's league basketball as often as he could. By 1991 Ray had completed his Air National Guard obligation and both of his children had been born. Ray and Sandy agreed to relocate to Hartford, VT to be closer to her family. Ray accepted a position with Lepage Bakery, Inc as a Route Salesman and by January 1992 was promoted to Regional Sales Supervisor. His sales routes enabled Ray to become familiar with his new home in Vermont. Men's league basketball in Hartford, VT was where Ray met many like-minded people and made some lasting friends.
In 1995 Ray took a risk and enrolled as a full time student at Lyndon State College commuting from Wilder, VT several days a week for several years to attend classes. Holding part-time jobs while in college, Ray favored those with the Hartford Parks & Recreation Department including Summer Camp Director, Youth & Adult Athletic Program Supervisor, "Kid Zone" After School & Vacation Camp Director. For his college internship project Ray chose to complete a Town of Hartford Parks &
Recreation Department Community Survey. Ray graduated with his Bachelor's Degree in Recreation Resource Management in May 1997. In early 1998, Ray was hired full time as Hartford's Recreation Program Director where he stayed for 6 more years and supported Hartford's achievement of Parks & Recreation national accreditation.
Anxious to continue to advance in the Recreation industry Ray accepted the position of Recreation & School Athletic Director for the Town of Hartland in August 2004. In addition to developing new programs and expanding the activity and community offerings in Hartland, Ray enjoyed having a presence in the school becoming a 7th grade advisory and chaperoning 8th grade field trips to Boston to walk the "Freedom Trail". For many years, Ray helped coordinate the Quechee Covered Bridges Half Marathon supporting local charities. He was also an active member of the Vermont Recreation and Parks Association (VRPA) which included serving as the elected President from 2011 thru 2014.
Ray loved to play basketball but grew to love coaching just as much. Youth basketball summer camps, his own children's recreation teams in Hartford, AAU Basketball for the Titans, Rebels, and Storm. Most recently for the town of Hartland where he made time to coach a team just about every season including soccer, basketball, and track & field.
In addition to living in several states, Ray's work with the VRPA plus family vacations afforded him the opportunity to visit many memorable places such as Williamsburg, Lancaster, Baltimore, Boston, New York, Washington DC, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Bahama's, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Phoenix, Grand Canyon, San Diego, Belize, Cozumel, Denver, Jackson Hole, and Yellowstone. Ray's hobbies extended beyond basketball and coaching and included camping, hunting, hiking, family gatherings, and home do-it-yourself projects small & large.
Ray is predeceased by his paternal grandparents Raymond J. Sapp & Dora Bragdon. Maternal grandparents Edwin H. Lively & Freda M. (Buzzel) Lively. Two uncles Henry W. Lively and Norman Conway. An aunt, Fern (Sapp) Calderwood and 2 first cousins who all resided in the Portland, ME area.
Ray is survived by his wife Sandra J. (Frechette) Sapp of Hartland, VT. Daughter Alyssa R. Sapp and her fiancé Joseph A. Carbone of Putnam Valley, NY. Son Joshua A. Sapp and grandson Mason W. Steinmetz-Sapp of Hartford, VT. Parents Joseph W. Sapp and Freda J. (Lively) Sapp of South Portland, ME. Sister Jodi L. (Sapp) Sukeforth and brother in-law David Sukeforth of Severn, MD. Oodles of loving in laws, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and colleagues.
A private service for relatives and close family friends will be held on Saturday July 25th at 3:00 pm at the First Congregational Church in Hartland, VT. Community calling hours and reception will begin at 5:00 pm at the Hartland Recreation Center followed by a Celebration of Life memorial service under the tent at 7:00 pm. Ray valued the balance and life lessons that he gained from participating in athletics and coaching. It was important to Ray that children be given this opportunity regardless of their abilities or financial situation. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the Ray Sapp Memorial Fund for Youth Athletics, c/o Town of Hartland, PO Box 349, Hartland, VT 05048.