Raymond A. Frechette

Raymond A. Frechette, 86, of North Providence passed away October 4, 2024. He was the husband of Nancy (Cook) Frechette. Born in Woonsocket, he was the son of the late Alfred and Beatrice (Henault) Frechette.

Ray was a graduate of Northeastern University and was an Engineer and Inventor for Texas Instruments for over 30 years. Ray held several patents for them and traveled worldwide for T.I. He made many friends and combined a few trips with his wife Nancy. Later he traveled for pleasure with Nancy thru Asia, Europe and the Caribbean and enjoyed cruises with family and friends.

After retirement, Ray and several coworkers founded a new company and established Etch Logic. It featured the manufacturing of reel to reel computer chips for many companies. They got through the pandemic years struggling with a new company but succeeded. Ray had his second retirement from that company, but he still loved to be busy and though he had leisure time he missed the work and friendships that he had found over the years.

He was quite knowledgeable on wine and became a wine connoisseur. He started his own wine club, “Vino Russo” (red wine). When adding a new kitchen to his home, he added a wine cellar for his extensive collection of wines.

Ray was able to purchase a 1935 French car, a Rosengart, which was believed to be the only one brought into the U.S. with the help of his best friend, Richard Marcotte. They enjoyed restoring it together. He even attended a French antique auto show in Normandy to obtain parts for his “Rosie”.

He was also a US Air Force Veteran and a member of the Knights of Columbus-4th degree.

He was the father of Mark T. Frechette and stepfather of Jeffrey Wertz and brother of Susan Barnes and her family.

His visitation and funeral will be held Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. in the PONTARELLI-MARINO Home, 971 Branch Avenue, Providence followed by a service in the funeral home at 11:00 a.m. Burial to follow in Highland Memorial Park Cemetery, Johnston.