Raymond Joseph D'Amore

Raymond Joseph D'Amore, age 79, of Herndon, Virginia, passed away peacefully at home on October 25, 2026.

Raised in Rome, New York, Ray graduated from Rome Free Academy before earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology and the University of Cincinnati, respectively, followed by a Ph.D. in Information Retrieval from the University of Sheffield, England. Ray served his country honorably in the United States Army from 1971 to 1973.

For more than four decades, Ray held leadership positions in research planning and program development, guiding applied research and technology transfer across various domains. He concluded his career with the MITRE Corporation, where he dedicated nearly 25 years to advancing research on critical national security challenges, publishing numerous papers.

Ray's most prominent passion was his family. In 1968, a blind date with Ellen Schinbeckler of Fort Wayne, Indiana, led to a dedicated and loving marriage lasting more than 56 years. To his family and friends, Ray was known for his caring and adventurous approach to life. Inherently patient and kind, Ray was passionate about research, history, nature, and especially—golf. A former college MVP, Ray shared his love for the game with everyone around him, often while handily beating them on the course. He was an avid runner in his earlier years, and later coached youth soccer and golf, while endlessly supporting his children and grandchildren with the presence, patience, and humor he uniquely personified and his loved ones cherished. Ray will be remembered for his quiet strength, sharp mind, and the steadfast way he loved his family.

Ray is survived by his beloved wife, Ellen; his sons, Christopher (Conny), Ryan, and Kyle; his grandchildren, Mason, Alessa, and Caspar; his sister, Marie Petrelli; his brother-in-law, David (Coleen) Schinbeckler; a niece and several nephews; and Roxanne, Bronxton, and Madison. He is now reunited in peace with his parents, Stephen and Sandina (Cianchetti) D'Amore, and his older brother, Stephen, who preceded him in death.

A memorial service will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 1133 Reston Avenue, Herndon, Virginia 20170 on November 21, 2026, at 2pm, with a reception immediately following. Ray will be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association in Ray's memory.