Obituary of Laras Radney

Laras George Radney was born on August 5, 1952 in Staten Island, New York, the only son of Mildred M. Radney.

As a child, Laras attended St. Philips Baptist Church with his mother. Growing up in the church’s tight-knit community instilled in Laras a deep faith and spirituality that stayed with him throughout his life. He was known to quote Luke 12, Verse 48’s reminder that “to whom much is given, much is required” and he found inspiration for his daughter Imani’s name in Ephesians 2, Verse 8: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” His continued involvement in the church into adulthood, as well as his reverence for gospel music, brought him great fulfillment.

Laras attended P.S. 30 and I.S. 51 before graduating from Port Richmond High School in 1970. He moved to Chicago in the early 1970s to enroll in the University of Chicago. His recollections of his years spent there were rife with stories of excellent live music experiences and dreaded memories of “the Hawk” sweeping across Lake Michigan. He returned to New York in the 1980s and in the early 1990s he met and married Reneé Mason; together they raised two daughters. Fatherhood brought singular joy to Laras’s life—as surely anyone who knew him would attest to. He took immense pride in his daughters and their accomplishments, and he offered them endless encouragement.

Laras worked as a respiratory therapist for nearly five decades. During his career he demonstrated a profound commitment to critical care and respiratory care education. A fierce advocate for patients, he was quick to offer support to his colleagues and to give an impromptu lecture on gas exchange or ventilator settings. He would often extend his time and expertise to friends (as well as their loved ones) when they faced health difficulties. Over the course of his long career, he amassed a large work family across several New York and New Jersey hospitals including Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Mountainside Medical Center, and Jersey City Medical Center. Most recently, he was a vital member of the respiratory teams at Saint Michael’s Medical Center and Bayonne Medical Center.

Laras adored music. Whether he was singing, playing piano, organ, or trumpet, listening to Stevie Wonder, Sting, or Lisa Fischer—music played a central role in his life. He relished unseasonably warm weather and trips to the beach. A polyglot who delighted in conversing with people in as many languages as he could, he maintained an enduring interest in politics and American history. Laras enjoyed good food and was a true connoisseur of Häagen-Dazs chocolate ice cream. Though he was a man of faith with a generous and patient soul, Laras had exacting standards, and was not afraid to share them with the people around him. His laughter and quick wit will be sorely missed.

He attended the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, School of Allied Health Professions and in 1995 received an Associate Degree in Science from the College of Staten Island.

Laras Radney is survived by his loving daughters Brenda Mason Radney and Imani Radney, former wife Reneé Radney, grandson Apollo Bellefeuille, as well as his dear brothers Phillip Moore, George Meadows, Eric Barrow, and Ronald Price. He also leaves behind countless friends, loved ones, and colleagues.