Raymond Earl Dunlevy

Raymond E. Dunlevy March 30, 1943 – February 18, 2022 Raymond Earl Dunlevy, 78, of East Washington, died Friday, February 18, 2022, in Washington Hospital, following a lengthy illness. He was born March 30, 1943, in Washington, a son of the late Morton Torrence “Buck” Dunlevy and Margaret Meredith Dunlevy. He grew up in the Moninger neighborhood of Houston, PA, before moving as a teenager to Washington, when his parents opened a small grocery store on North Main Street, Dunlevy’s Market. Ray attended Chartiers-Houston High School through late high school and graduated from Trinity High School in 1961. He was a varsity high school wrestler and later coached wrestling in the Trinity School District from 1965-68. He was a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he received his bachelor’s degree and Master’s in Art Education, and was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. He continued his post-graduate work at The Art Students League in New York, Ohio State University, The Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, and Carnegie-Mellon University, with additional graduate work at California University of Pennsylvania. As a young professional, he worked as an illustrator and owned an advertising and commercial graphic design studio in Washington – his work included logos, branding and professional ad imagery for area businesses including the former Washington Hospital logo, the emblem for Washington County, as well as for myriad automotive, media and manufacturing companies throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. He taught art at Trinity from 1965-68, and he was hired by Beaver County Community College in developing its art curriculum, serving as Assistant Professor of Art and Program Chair from 1968-1976. In 1977, he took a position as Assistant Professor of Art at California University of Pennsylvania, where he taught drawing and painting until his retirement in 2003. While at Cal U, he served on a number of advisory committees and professional boards. He served as department chair from 1979-1987, and for several years took Cal U art students on excursions to NYC. Teaching and the classroom remained a priority in Ray’s life, as he continued to hold figure drawing classes and art-related outreach long after his retirement. He was an approachable artist, teacher and human. Ray made sure his students understood the success of their creations and was a mentor to young artists as well as his peers throughout his career. In a 2001 Post-Gazette article, Ray noted that the time spent in academia helped his own painting development. “If you paint alone in your studio, you paint in isolation,” he said. “Teaching, however, forces you to examine and dissect your artistic decisions, your color and design choices, and your methodology because you have to talk about them with your students.” He said that working in partnership with students to analyze work and problem solve together was often the best solution. “In doing that, you often come up with ideas you might not encounter alone in the isolation of your own work." Outside of the university, Ray held his own private art studio on Main Street in downtown Washington, which he shared with fellow artists John Luginski and Ray Forquer for many years, and later with artists Alan Cottrill and John Yothers. In 1994 - along with artists Cottrill and Duke Miecznikowski - he founded The Artists’ Co-Op in Washington, a nonprofit cooperative of local and regional artists of all mediums that worked to showcase the arts and support makers. He remained an active member for many years. In 1999, Ray received WQED’s VITA Award for his volunteer efforts to support and promote the arts in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Organizations that Ray donated work to support included The Washington County Historical Society, The Washington County Tourist Promotion Agency, The Presbyterian Home, The Washington Hospital, The Cancer Society, The Bradford House, The LeMoyne House, and The Pittsburgh Renaissance Center. Ray exhibited work on a regional and national level for decades, including The National Painting Show at Washington & Jefferson College, shows at Penn State, Westminster College, Oglebay Institute, Ohio University and the Westmoreland Co. Museum among others. He participated in myriad festivals and gallery shows throughout Pittsburgh, Sewickley, Westmoreland, Washington and Greene counties, as well as juried and group shows. He was awarded numerous accolades for his print work, painting, graphic design and his work in ceramics. Over the years, Ray received commissions for his paintings, most of which centered on his local street scenes and particularly his portraiture, both for private families as well as notable community members. Some include John Marous, former CEO of Westinghouse Corp.; John Watkins, George Roadman and Herman Gross, retired presidents of California University of Pennsylvania; as well as portraits of the Hardy family, commissioned by 84 Lumber founder and CEO Joe Hardy. In 2017, he was commissioned in partnership with longtime friend Peter West of World West Galleries to collaborate on a commemorative book, “The Rooney McGinley Boxing Club – from the archives of Art Rooney Jr.” published by Art Rooney Jr. The book includes notable boxers and world champions in sports history, several of whom have portrait illustrations by Ray in the publication that were later translated to sports collector trading cards. He also was commissioned to execute a series of large portrait paintings for the 84 Lumber Classic PGA Tour at Nemacolin Woodlands, including paintings of Vijay Singh, John Daly and Phil Mickelson – all of which are currently on display in the permanent collection at Nemacolin’s Pro Shop. He was a lifelong Democrat, and supporting the arts was paramount to him. His memberships, over time, included The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh; The Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh; The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen; Pittsburgh Society of Artists; Pittsburgh Print Group; and others. At the time of his death, Ray had an art studio outfitted in his 1890s home basement, complete with dehumidifier, Willie Nelson on the stereo and Maker’s Mark on hand. Personally, Ray enjoyed music and had played the guitar in small music ensembles starting in high school. In the mid-1960s, he was a member of the folk group The Talismen, and he continued his love of strumming and casual pick-up performances throughout his life, with an affinity for traditional Irish folk songs and gathering for “music nights” with friends, guitars and drinks at The Century Inn in Scenery Hill. There wasn’t a Tommy Makem or Clancy Brothers song he didn’t know. He was a patron of not only the fine arts but of local music organizations, including the Washington Jazz Society and the Washington Symphony Orchestra. Ray was a golfer and longtime member of Nemacolin Golf Club in Beallsville. At home for a time, he played pool regularly, loved tinkering with computer software and was a longtime model train collector and appreciator. Ray thrived in social situations and among friends. For a time, he was known to gather on Friday nights with artists and friends at the former First Stop and Lou Reda’s restaurants, and later at The Century Inn. He was jolly, smart, and wonderfully fun to be around. He loved entertaining and gathering with good company, and he spoke often of Christmas parties and time spent at neighbors’ homes. If Ray had a story to tell, it was hard not to engage – he was a charismatic conversationalist. On August 5, 1967, in Poke Run Church, Murrysville, he married Sandra Beech, who survives. They unexpectedly rode together from the ceremony in a hearse, thanks to his brother-in-law. Ray and Sandy were married for 54 years. She was his right hand and best friend in life. In recent years, she was his caretaker and never left his side. Also surviving are a son, Joshua and wife Kamelia Dunlevy of Glenshaw; a daughter, Bess Dunlevy of Castle Shannon; a granddaughter, Elizabeth Dunlevy; and dear cousins who were like siblings to him, Lydia and James (Brenda) D’Allessandro, and Forrest Montgomery, all of Washington. He also leaves cousins Carol Filipponi, Peggy Montgomery, Cheryl Verona, Bobby Meredith, Roy Meredith, Dennis Meredith, and Carol (the late Terry) Ryan; brother-in-law Terry Beech and family; as well as extended family locally, on the West Coast and Colorado. In addition to his parents, deceased is his brother, Everett “Sonny” Meredith Jr., who died December 30, 2020, and aunts and uncles. Services at this time will be private. A memorial wake will be held at a later date for friends and loved ones to gather and raise a glass to Ray. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: The Washington Jazz Society (washington-jazz-society.square.site), The Washington Symphony Orchestra (washsym.org), The Bradford House (bradfordhouse.org) or Citizens Library. Arrangements have been entrusted to William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., Washington.