April 26, 1920—Oct. 25, 2009

Raymond M. Kaminski, a retired mental health officer and social worker, died Oct. 25 in his Herndon, Va., retirement home. He was 89.

The former Amherst resident was born in Buffalo and graduated from East High School and the University of Buffalo, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1949 and his master’s degree in 1956.

A Marine Corps veteran of World War II, he took part in the amphibious assault on Guadalcanal.

Mr. Kaminski retired in 1985 as principal officer of the state Mental Health Information Services, which advised State Supreme Court justices handling the commitment of patients to psychiatric hospitals.

He previously was executive director of the Epilepsy Association of Western New York, a clinical social worker at Veterans Administration Hospital and an Erie County probation officer and social services caseworker. He was a member of the New York State Society of Clinical Social Workers.

A longtime member of St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, Mr. Kaminski was a member of the music ministry and seniors organization and a lector and a cantor. He received the church’s Great Twelve Award as well as the diocesan God and Youth Medal.

Surviving are his wife of 63 years, the former Marie Pietraszek, and three daughters, Marjorie Battaglia, Melissa Mauriello and Barbara Peck.

A memorial Mass will be offered at 10:30 a. m. Saturday in St. Gregory the Great Church, 200 St. Gregory Court at Maple Road, Amherst.