I am a better person for having known him. I am glad he called me friend.
Raymond S. Slater of Millville, age 48, passed away on Thursday, November 5, 2015, at Cooper Hospital in Camden. He was born June 17, 1967, at Mountainside Hospital, Montclair, NJ, to Raymond C. Slater and Linda Rose Ruffalo.
He was a 1985 graduate of Millville Senior High School. Raymond received an Associate in Liberal Arts degree from Cumberland County College in 1993, his Bachelor of Arts degree from Rowan University in 1997, and his Master of Arts in Teaching degree for New Jersey City University in 2013.
He married Jessica Gayle Ferus on May 2, 2009, at The First Presbyterian Church of Millville.
Ray worked hard to put himself through school. He often recounted funny stories about his days working with friends at Color Tile. When Color Tile closed its doors Ray did odd jobs for his beloved Uncle Eddie and Mr. Casbarro or “Mr. C”, as Ray was fond of calling him. Ray also worked for many years as a land surveyor for different engineering firms before he realized his dream of teaching as a substitute teacher at Myron L Powell Elementary School in Cedarville. Ray went on to work for six years as a teacher of students with disabilities for The Devereux Foundation. When Devereux closed its school doors, Ray began substitute teaching for the Millville and Vineland Charter Schools.
Ray loved the outdoors. He loved to sit in the yard, soak in the sun and watch the variety of birds he attracted with his many bird feeders. He took his family on many epic road trip adventures camping and hiking from the Great Smokey Mountains to the White Mountains and everywhere in between. But above all Ray was a great teacher. He wasn’t always the most tactful in his delivery but he genuinely cared for and loved to encourage the people in his life. Ray just had an uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and positive way.
Ray is survived by his wife, Jessica, three children: Raymond, Dreu, and Ian. He is also survived by his father, Raymond C. Slater and his eight brothers and sisters: Carlotta Slater, Spencer Slater, Edward Slater and wife Serina, Lara Slater, James Dowd Jr. and wife Rita, Zoe Wagner and husband Robert, Nicholas Palko, and Katelynn Palko. Ray also leaves behind several nieces, nephews and extended family.
Ray was preceded in death by his Mother, Linda (Ruffalo) Dowd.
A celebration of Ray’s life will be 3:00 pm Saturday, November 21, at The First Presbyterian Church of Millville on 2nd Street.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Raymond’s family at https://www.gofundme.com/s29283tb
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Leave a tributeI am a better person for having known him. I am glad he called me friend.
Leave a Tribute
I am a better person for having known him. I am glad he called me friend.