George F. Raymond

George F. Raymond 79, of Bonita Springs, FL died Sunday, June 19, 2016. He was born March 12, 1937 in Fitchburg, MA the only child of the late George R. and Fannie E. (Louma) Raymond. He was the first in the family to go to college, attending the University of Massachusetts and majoring in accounting. He graduated in 1959. After graduation, he worked in the Accounting Department at Sealtest Dairy in Philadelphia, PA. He worked in public accounting and acquired his CPA certificate in 1965. He left public accounting that year to establish Computer Services, Inc. to provide specialized needs to small businesses. CSI was acquired in 1969 by Management Data Corporation. In 1971, he founded Automatic Business Centers to do payroll processing and employee management services for businesses in the South Jersey area. Over the course of twenty years, he grew this company from one small office to over twenty offices and covering territory from New York to Delaware and on into Western Pennsylvania. He felt fortunate to be able to employ over 200 people, many of who were the breadwinners in their families. He was a thoughtful and giving employer who enjoyed training his sales team and mentoring his administrative team. Always one to find a creative business deal, George undertook to sell and repurchase the company three times, once from Safeguard Scientific in 1979, once from INA-CIGNA Insurance Company in 1981, and lastly to Automatic Data Processing in 1989, when he retired. George was admired by many for his entrepreneurial spirit, business acumen and deal-making ability. He served many years with ADAPSO, the computer industry trade association, contributing as the treasure, then vice-chairman and finally as chairman from 1998-99. George held many positions on some thirty boards, both for-profit and non-profit including, BMC Software, Heartland Payment Systems, Concord EFS, First Fidelity Bank, Burlington County College among many others. He took this board work very seriously and always strived to be a valuable contributor and effective advisor to each organization. George was happily married for fifty-six wonderful years to his college sweetheart, Mary Ellen “Mimi” Raymond. She always referred to him as “Gig.” The two met at UMass and shared laughs and love through the ups and downs of penniless years as a new married couple, through child-rearing and building a family in Moorestown, NJ, to retirement in Florida. As a father, he was highlighted his athletic acumen as a patient little league coach and enthusiastic women’s lacrosse and field hockey fan. Mimi and George traveled the world together over those five decades, enjoying adventures covering six of the seven continents. George was an avid golfer and a long-time member of Pine Valley Golf Club and Riverton Country Club. Once they moved to Florida, he became a member of the Bonita Bay Golf Club where he not only played golf on a daily basis, but he was also proudly the “Commissioner” of the Men’s Gin Club. George was an American patriot and a champion for entrepreneurialism and our capitalist markets. He enjoyed politics and was never shy about offering his opinions on current events and national news. George was a loving, dedicated and gifted father of three children: Stephen Rockwell (Pam) Raymond of Moorestown, NJ, Katherine Raymond (Harlan) Crow of Dallas, TX and Margaret Raymond (Ed) Roach of Berwyn, PA; and nine grandchildren, Bailey and Bethany Raymond; Jack, Rob and Sarah Crow; and Teddy, Jane, Luke and Ellie Roach. With each of these grandchildren, George organized and hosted the trip of their dreams, taking them all when they were 10-years old wherever they wanted to go. George loved his family with all his heart and showered them with his attention until his last days. A Memorial Mass to celebrate his life will be held Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 11:00 AM at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church 28290 Beaumont Rd., Bonita Springs, FL. A reception for family and friends will follow the Mass at the family residence. Please no flowers, instead a memorial in George’s name can be made to Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice 27100 Imperial Parkway, Bonita Springs, FL 34135 or to the Liberty Youth Ranch 24900 Liberty Youth Ranch Way, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. Online condolences may be offered by visiting www.ShikanyFuneralHome.com. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home.

George F. Raymond

March 12, 1937 - June 19, 2016