TOWN OF TONAWANDA: Former town councilman Sinclair dies

Local News

October 30, 2009

Staff Reports The Tonawanda News Fri Oct 30, 2009, 10:33 PM EDT

Ray Sinclair, who served on the Town of Tonawanda’s Town Board for more than two decades, died Tuesday at his home. Sinclair had recently celebrated his 81st birthday.

Sinclair made his first inroads into political life in 1979, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Town Board. He was elected to the seat the same year and went on to serve on the board for 26 years. Even after he retired from the position, he still attended the town’s budget meetings regularly, offering both measured praise and constructive criticism to the town leaders as they spent taxpayer money.

But the council chamber wasn’t the only place Sinclair gave back to his community, leaving behind a legacy of community activism and leadership. The list of career choices associated with Sinclair’s name also guides an observer through his passion as a volunteer and public servant.

An early stint as an English teacher led him to service on Mount St. Mary Academy’s board of trustees and the board of governors at Canisius College, where he obtained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Later, he ran shoe stores in Kenmore and Orchard Park. Expanding on his role as a local business owner, Sinclair became director of the Greater Buffalo Shoe Retailers, served as president of the Kenmore Merchants Association and sat on the executive committee for the Chamber of Commerce’s Ken-Ton Showcase.

Finally, during his time at Hunt Real Estate, Sinclair’s interest in development led him to a spot on the Buffalo Niagara Board of Realtors. He also once held a seat on the board of directors of the Town of Tonawanda Development Corporation.

Sinclair was an Eagle Scout, a first lieutenant in the National Guard and served as president of the Kenmore Rotary Club. Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Schofield Residence and the local Red Cross all owe past successful fundraising campaigns to Sinclair’s leadership.

Church was another area where Sinclair contributed, serving as president of St. Amelia’s Holy Name Society chairman of the church’s building committee. He will be remembered at a Mass of Christian Burial, scheduled for noon today in St. Amelia Catholic Church, 2999 Eggert Road.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ellen; four sons, Peter, Timothy, Thomas and John; and two daughters, Kathy Lannen and Anne Evans.

Text Only

Local News

Buffalo Suzuki Strings ensemble hitting the national stage
NT music school traveling to Minneapolis to perform at conference

May 25, 2012 2 Photos
New program hopes to speed wait-times at Erie DMVs Clerk to implement "rain check" system for users who lacked all required documents on previous visit
May 25, 2012
Hochul returns from Afghanistan tour
Congresswoman touts contributions of female military members, Afghan civilians

May 25, 2012
Ghoulish convention planned at Central Terminal
Tonawanda native and Kenmore zombie lover behind event that caters to horror fans of all stripes

May 25, 2012 1 Photo
NY pension fund grows
May 24, 2012
NT weather watcher hasn't missed a day in 30 years
Jack Kanack honored by National Weather Service for committment to documenting Mother Nature

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
NT remembers a hometown hero
Marine Lance Cpl. Timothy Serwinowski, killed in Afghanistan in 2010, is the first in a new program highlighting Lumber City servicemembers past and present.

May 24, 2012 3 Photos
NCIDA lowers AES tax deal
May 23, 2012
Town zoning code amended in Wheatfield
May 23, 2012
Second falls jumper reported
May 23, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

TOWN OF TONAWANDA: Former town councilman Sinclair dies

Site Map

Contact Us