Gilbert Dunkin Raker, a loving family man, devoted Christian, and accomplished professional passed away on March 15, 2025, at the age of 81. Gil was born on December 5, 1943, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the Reverend Jeremiah Russell Raker, II and Margaret Elmina Raker.
Gil is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 60 years, Nancy, who stood by his side through all of life’s joys and challenges. Gil’s greatest pride was his family. He is survived by his three children: Geoffrey Raker and his wife Jill, Todd Raker and his wife Heather, and Courtney Spada and her husband Charlie; seven grandsons (Brett, Cameron, Kyle, Christopher, Kieran, Luke, and Jake) and one granddaughter (Emma). Gil also is survived by his younger sister, Elmina Stewart, and was predeceased by his older brother, J Russell Raker, III.
Gil lived a life filled with love and dedication to family. He was always present for his children and grandchildren, never missing a single game, whether it was for the Boys and Girls Club basketball team, Little League, or soccer, often as coach, but always as a deeply invested spectator and the loudest advocate from the sidelines. He logged countless miles transporting the kids to sporting events. When he realized that Greenwich had no soccer options for girls, he, with Nancy’s dedicated assistance, founded the Greenwich Soccer Club for Girls. He was a life-long champion for girls’ and women’s sports, and the long-term success of the girls’ soccer program in Greenwich can be traced to the efforts of a dedicated group of parents from the 1980s of which Gil and Nancy were leaders.
Beyond his family, Gil had a passion for outdoors. Born to a Canadian mother, he loved to fish and cherished the memories of building a summer cabin with his father on Lake Joseph in Ontario. This was the origin of his skill as a jack of all trades—carpenter, electrician, and plumber, which he employed in later years with a passion for fixing up his family homes. After graduating from Eastern Baptist College with Honors and Syracuse Business School, Gil went on to lead a distinguished career in finance, serving as the CFO of two publicly traded companies and as the CEO of SEMX, a semiconductor packaging company, for over 20 years. His leadership and expertise were respected by his peers and colleagues.
Gil, forever a “preacher’s kid”, was a highly active member at First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich, where he was Head Usher and a Member of the Worship Committee for years. Gil and Nancy joined FPCG when they moved to Greenwich in 1978 and quickly found a family of beloved friends to raise their children alongside. At FPCG, Gil was known for his willingness to serve, regardless of the nature of the need, and he could often be found at service outreach events using his carpentry skills or cooking or serving a meal in the church kitchen.
Gil was instrumental in bringing his family together to create countless memorable moments. Ocean City, New Jersey was a particularly cherished family vacation spot originating from Gil and Nancy’s time visiting there in college. Each of Gil’s children and grandchildren now share a love for Ocean City from magical summer days and nights spent enjoying time with Gil and Nancy.
Gil’s passing leaves a void, but his memory will be cherished by all who knew him. He will be deeply missed, but his love, wisdom, and the memories he created will forever be etched into the hearts of those who loved him.
A celebration of Gil’s life will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at the Stanwich Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Stanwich Church Stamford Project, https://stanwichchurch.org/giving