April 24, 2020
In Memoriam: Ray Jarvis; former public safety supervisor, assistant baseball coach
Raymond “Ray” Jarvis, a former shift supervisor in the Providence College Department of Public Safety and a former Friar assistant baseball coach, died on April 24, 2020.
A pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in 1969 and 1970, Mr. Jarvis came to PC in 1989 to serve as an assistant coach for the Friars’ baseball team. He coached for five full seasons, until 1993, helping the Friars to their first BIG EAST championship in 1992.
Mr. Jarvis was named a security officer at the College in 1991, holding the rank of sergeant. He was promoted to shift supervisor in 1996 and remained in that role until leaving the College in 2018.
Born in Providence, Mr. Jarvis grew up on Smith Hill and played baseball with the St. Patrick’s CYO team. He went on to attend and play baseball at Hope High School in Providence.
Mr. Jarvis had a seven-year career as a pitcher in professional baseball. The Red Sox selected him in the 18th round of the 1965 amateur draft. He worked his way up the Boston system to make 44 appearances with the Red Sox in 1969 and 1970. He pitched more than 100 innings during those two injury-plagued seasons, posting a 5–7 won-lost record and a 4.64 earned-run average.
He was traded to the California Angels later in 1970.
Outgoing and affable, Mr. Jarvis had a special way with people, said family members and friends. They considered him a voice of reason, oftentimes the life of the party, and a reliable friend to many.
Mr. Jarvis is survived by his children, Jennifer Hill and Chris Jarvis; five grandchildren, Morgan Hill, Chloe Jarvis, Fiona Hill, Tyler Bucher-Jarvis and Kierstin Bucher; and his brother, Robert M. Jarvis ’78SCE. He was predeceased by his daughter Deidre in 2017.
Memorial services will be scheduled later this summer.
