Raymond Paul Kosinski – 50th Reunion Essay

Raymond Paul Kosinski

382 Three Mile Course

Guilford, CT 6437

203 824-4290

Child(ren): Raymond M. (1981)

Education: Yale BA 1968, Univ. of Connecticut School of Law JD 1972

National Service: Major US Army Reserve, Retired, 1969-1998

Career: Attorney/Public Defender

Avocations: Reading, Golf, Bible Study

College: Silliman

We all have had similar experiences on life’s road: Love, Birth(s), Death(s), Accomplishment and Failure, Growth and Delight. My brother and sister (both Yalies), their families, my son and friends are my greatest joy. I cherish the lasting friendships “Formed at Yale.”

University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D. 1972. Hated law school, so, why not adopt the law as my profession? Started in private practice and stayed with it until 1977, when newly established positions opened in Superior Court Juvenile Division. I was hired for New Haven. Caseload was the highest of all offices in the state, so one looked forward to the occasional trial as a respite from the grind—a time for intense focus, representing accused to the age of 16, clients with intellectual deficits, character disorders, inadequate (or worse) parents/guardians. All were stressful but rewarding. Retired in 2003.

Summer of 1969 ended a sheltered and privileged Yale existence with combined basic training/OCS tour at Fort Benning, Georgia, which ended up being the equivalent of the first two years of the last Yale Army ROTC class in which I graduated in 1971 with a second lieutenant commission in the US Army Corps of Engineers. Vietnam still loomed but never materialized—for me. I remained in the US Army Reserve well past my obligation, serving in various interesting and challenging positions until retiring with the rank of major. Eleven of twenty years in the army probably took a toll on my poor son, Raymond, with late nights, coming home to thirteen new-born pups in his bed—formative experiences. Appreciate that single-parenting is not a breeze for child or parent.

My son’s intense focus and success in playing soccer and baseball was a mostly wholesome part of our lives.

After retirement, I developed an interest in reading, and then studying the Bible. After auditing a number of courses at Yale Divinity School, I began conducting classes at my parish church, St. George, in Guilford, Connecticut.

The “jungle” around the house is persistent, unconquerable.

A lesson learned: It is rather foolish to start playing golf at age 60.

I join classmates in mourning the passing of icons like Vincent Scully and Carmen Cozza.

On the recent manifestation of political correctness at Yale, it seems that some worthy and blameless people were not accorded loyalty and appropriate support by the Yale administration. As a result, I have had to temper a bit my deep affection for all things Yale.