Oct. 18, 1928—Oct. 27, 2009

Raymond E. Sinclair, a longtime member of the Tonawanda Town Board, died Tuesday at home. He was 81.

Born in Buffalo, Mr. Sinclair graduated from St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Canisius College. Early in his career, he taught English for a couple of years at Alden Central High School.

He had operated family-owned shoe stores in Kenmore and Orchard Park, and worked as an energy assistance counselor for the Erie County Department of Social Services.

Most recently, he was an agent for Hunt Real Estate.

An active member of the Republican Party, Mr. Sinclair was appointed to a vacancy on the Town Board in 1979 and was elected that fall. He served 26 years on the board.

Mr. Sinclair was an Eagle Scout and served as a first lieutenant in the National Guard.

He was a past president of the Kenmore Rotary Club and recipient of the Paul Harris Award. He also was a past president of the Kenmore Merchants Association and St. Amelia’s Holy Name Society, and a former member of the Canisius College board of governors and Mount St. Mary Academy’s board of trustees.

Mr. Sinclair also was on the executive committee for the Tonawanda Community Showcase, business chairman for the Kenmore Mercy Hospital building drive, co-chairman of the Schofield Residence capital fund drive, chairman of the town’s Red Cross blood program, director of the Greater Buffalo Shoe Retailers, chairman of the St. Amelia’s building committee and a member of the board of directors of the Town of Tonawanda Development Corp. and the Buffalo Niagara Board of Realtors.

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

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at noon Saturday in St. Amelia Catholic Church, 2999 Eggert Road, Town of Tonawanda.