Obituary of Raymond Pressman

NISKAYUNA, NY Dr. Raymond Pressman, 79, of Niskayuna, died March 14, 2009 at Ellis Hospital after a brief illness, with his family by his side. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, on February 4, 1930, son of the late Mannie and Rebecca Pressman. Ray is survived by his wife Mary, his children Ronald (Mary) Pressman of New Canaan, CT, Melanie (Robert) Harris of Highland Park, IL, Kristin (Alex Stern) Pressman of Highland Park, IL and Edward (Dian) Pressman of Arlington, VA; step-children Julie (Michael Griffin) Watts of Clifton Park, NY and Stephen Watts of Brooklyn, NY; sister Nancy (Stanley) Turetsky of Carle Place, NY; and his former wife, Sydney Thomas of Temple, NH. Ray is also survived by grandchildren Emily, Jake and Ned Pressman, Zachary, Anna and William Harris, Ethan and Asher Stern, Amanda, Lily and Catt Pressman and step-granddaughter Freya Griffin. His sister, Marlene Edelstein, predeceased him. Also surviving are many multi-generational cousins, nieces and nephews. Ray graduated from East New York Vocational High School and received his BS from SUC New Paltz, MA from Columbia University, Professional Diploma from Columbia University and Ed.D from SUNY Albany. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1953-1955. He began his career in education as an elementary school teacher in the Hicksville Central School District in Long Island and then became a Reading Consultant and Elementary School Assistant Principal in the same district. He came to the Niskayuna Central School District in 1964 as the Principal of Craig Elementary School. He went on to become the Principal of Iroquois and Van Antwerp Middle Schools, and then Hillside Elementary School. He also was Director of Reading and Director of the Elementary Gifted Program. After serving as Principal of Hillside School for 19 years he became Assistant Superintendent for three years until his retirement in 1992. While Ray was Principal at Hillside the school was awarded the New York State Education Department's Excellence in Education Award in 1986-87. Ray also served as Chairperson of the School-to-School Program with the International School of Prague, Czechoslovakia. After retirement Ray was interim Principal in the South Colonie, South Glens Falls and Rensselaer School Districts. A respected educator in the Niskayuna Central School District for 28 years, Ray was an advocate for children, parents, teachers, and administrators and will be missed by all those whose lives he touched. The family wishes to thank all the Ellis Hospital doctors, nurses and other staff for their compassionate care for Ray. A rememberance reception will be held at the Mohawk Golf Club on Union Street in Niskayuna, NY on Sunday April 5, 2009 at 4:00pm.Contributions may be made in Ray's memory to the Animal Protective Foundation, 53 Maple Avenue, Scotia, NY, 12302. .