Raymond Fazio

Ray Fazio, age 92, of Bluffton, South Carolina, died January 19 at the Fraser Health Center after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Ray is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Marilyn “Missy” Fazio, his former wife, Gloria Nelsen Fazio, and a large and devoted family whom he adored. Children: Roy T. Fazio (Pamela) of Medford, NJ and Janis LeBude (John) and Lois Weidhaas (Robert) of Mt. Laurel, NJ. Stepchildren: Lynne Oliva of Valley Village, CA, Terrance Dennis (Louisa) of Stockton, NJ, Elaine Dennis of San Mateo, CA and James Dennis (Rachel) of Doylestown, PA; fourteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Rose Fitzpatrick.

Ray was drafted by the Boston Red Sox but entered the Navy and was a veteran of WWII serving in the Pacific Theater as a signalman on a Navy troop carrier and a destroyer. After the war he entered college and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Pace College. He worked as a sales manager for Monroe Calculating Machine Company and a top salesman, winning many sales awards, for the IBM Corporation. In 1965 while still working for IBM, he bought a franchise of Staff Builders, a national staffing company. In a short period of time, he grew his Staff Builder franchise and became a top franchise. His children joined the company around 1970. In 1988 he and his children left the Staff Builder Franchisor and became an independent staffing company, changing the name to Protocall Group. A short time later his children assumed ownership of the company. Today Protocall is recognized as the #1 Family Business in the Philadelphia region by The Philadelphia Business Journal and Best Companies to work for by New Jersey Biz Magazine.

Leaving Medford Lakes, NJ Ray and Missy retired to Hilton Head, SC in 1989. They resided in Long Cove and then Belfair in Bluffton. He enjoyed gin rummy, golf and spending fun times with family and friends. Golf was his great enjoyment. He won many tournaments and shot his age often. Ray was very proud of his Italian heritage; loved to travel to Italy, play Sinatra and Bocelli, pour olive oil on everything and drink his special red wine. Little children, teenagers, adults and club employees all gathered around him enjoying his unique humor and captivating personality. As one friend said, “He was bigger than life itself”.

Burial will be at the Beaufort National Cemetery. The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to the Fraser Health Center, the Hospice Care of the Lowcountry and to his many home caregivers. Remembrances may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or the Hospice Care of the Low Country, P.O. Box 3827, Bluffton, SC 29910.