Raymond A. Kavinsky 1937-2025

Raymond was born Nov. 2, 1937, in Campbell, to Joseph and Josephine Kavinsky. He graduated in 1956 from Campbell Memorial High School. During his high school years, he excelled in baseball and football.

Immediately after high school graduation, he was recruited by the Milwaukee Braves minor league baseball team as a second baseman.

After his baseball career, he served four years in the Air Force Reserve.

In 1960, he enrolled as a student-athlete at Youngstown State University, playing both football under Coach Dike Beede and baseball under Coach Dom Rosselli while earning a degree in industrial engineering. At YSU, near the library, he also met the love of his life, Carole Russo. They wed in 1965 at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Youngtown.

Raymond and Carole raised their two children, Keith and Carrie, in Boardman. During this time, he was active in the Boardman Gridiron and coached many years of Little League baseball. He took pride in watching the youth develop their baseball and life skills.

After a 30-plus-year career at General Motors, he enjoyed his retirement and became an avid golfer. He was a longtime member of Salem Hills Country Club. He also loved working the winter months at Lely Golf Resort in Naples, Florida. In recent years, his competitive golf game went into mastering a great game of sudoku.

He and Carole were able to take a trip of a lifetime to Italy with family for their 50 anniversary to enjoy the sights and his favorite pasta bolognese dinner.

Raymond loved to spend time with family and cheer on his grandchildren, Katie, Reilly, Drew and Jacob through all their activities and milestones. He was a devoted fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns. He and Carole, along with their college friends, had a special tradition of traveling together to attend an Ohio State football game each year.

In 2010, he received a spot in the Campbell Memorial Hall of Fame for his impact in baseball. He was also a member of the YSU Penguin Alumni Association and Penguin Club.

Raymond was preceded in death by his son, Keith Kavinsky; brother, Joseph Kavinsky; sister, Lorraine Guidos; and parents, Joseph and Josephine Kavinsky.

Raymond leaves to cherish in his memory, his beloved wife, Carole Russo Kavinsky; daughter, Carrie (Jason) Hazen; grandsons, Reilly and Jacob Hazen; daughter-in-law, Corrine Carmen Kavinsky; granddaughter, Katie (Brenden) Bohnenstiehl; grandson, Drew Kavinsky; and several in-laws, nieces, nephews, family members and friends.

A special thanks goes out to Barb Taylor from Visiting Angels and the entire Harmony Hospice team.

“Baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past. It reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again.” – Terence Mann, “Field of Dreams”

Visitation will take place 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at St. Jude Church, 180 Seventh St., Columbiana, OH 44408.

A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at noon Saturday at the church, with a luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Visiting Angels, 1285 E. Pidgeon Road, Suite A, Salem, OH 44460; or Harmony Hospice, 2341 E. State St., Suite B, Salem, OH 44460.

Professional arrangements are being handled by the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Poland Chapel.

(special notice)