Raymond "Doc" Friday, Ph.D.

Raymond Friday, Ph.D., of West Chester, PA passed away on Thursday, May16, 2019

at Tel-Hai Retirement Community, Honey Brook, PA.  Raymond was born in West Chester, PA on August 13, 1934.  He was the son of the late Raymond Friday and May Grayson Friday in whose memory he established a scholarship for music students attending West Chester University.

Raymond was a graduate of Upper Darby High School, West Chester University and Oberlin College, and later received his PhD from New York University.  He served in the US Army from 1958 to 1960 as a clarinetist in the Seventh Army Symphony and was stationed in Germany where he learned to speak German fluently.

Dr. Friday was a Music Professor at West Chester University for 38 years and after retirement was named Professor Emeritus.  He served on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and was a member of many cultural institutions such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  Friday was also a major supporter of the preservation of the famous Wannamaker Organ in what is today Macy’s in center city Philadelphia.

Teaching music was Raymond’s first love and he never lost interest in the lives of his students.  He also enjoyed listening to jazz and classical music, exploring museums, attending concerts and plays, dining with friends, and performing as a vocalist and clarinetist.

Friends are invited to his Visitation on Monday, May 20th from 10:00 am – 11:00 am at DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, 410 N. Church St. West Chester, PA followed by his Funeral Service at 11:00 am. 610.696.1181 www.DellaFH.com. 

Interment will be in Birmingham-Lafayette Cemetery, West Chester, PA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the WCU Foundation in contribution to the Raymond & May Grayson/Friday Scholarship, 202 Carter Dr. West Chester, PA 19382.