Raymond E. Lenartowicz, Sr ., 94, Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, passed away on May 10, 2021.  Ray lived a life anyone would be proud of.  He was married for more than 63 years to the lovely Diane S. Lenartowicz, raising three children whom he liked to think of as exceptional.  Of the many fine moments in his life, three stood out for him: when his daughter Lisa graduated college, the first in his family to do so; when his son Ray became an Eagle Scout; and when his younger daughter Linda graduated from law school.  He saw his five grandchildren grow to adulthood: Taylor (Alex), Dylan, Sydney, Kate and Bryan; each one received a special nickname from Ray, and each has a Grandpa story that makes us laugh.  The greatest tragedy in Ray's life occurred when his son, Ray Jr., died in 1979.

Ray loved hot dogs and baseball and cantaloupe and playing the soundtracks from Broadway musicals (on repeat) starting at 7 am on Saturday mornings.  He was a gifted gardener, and ahead of his time as a composter (his secret ingredient was horse manure, which he got from local thoroughbred horse farms).  He grew the best tomatoes, and shared them freely with his friends.

Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Polish immigrants, Ray served in the US Navy during WWII aboard the USS Altair, and was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Medal, the American Theatre Medal, and the Victory Medal.  Returning home, Ray worked for Standard Oil, where he also played on a semi-professional softball team.  He met Diane one summer in Manasquan when she was helping a family friend at Leggett's Sandbar, they fell in love, and so began their story.  After marrying Diane, he became an insurance adjuster for The Hartford, a job that was a perfect fit for his skill set.  He enjoyed the diverse people he met on the job as well as the challenge of resolving tough cases.

Ray and Diane moved to Lincroft, building a life for their family.  Ray coached a Little League Team for several years, even serving a term as Head Umpire for Lincroft Little League.  Fifty years later he still had a note from the mother of one of his players, thanking him for teaching her son good sportsmanship.  He worked with the Indian Guides organization through the YMCA, and with the Boy Scouts.  He told corny jokes that always made people laugh, even if they'd heard that joke 20 times.  He loved how the stock market worked, and mentored many young people on investing (even some he had only met ten minutes earlier working at the store he and Diane were shopping in).  He volunteered with the Shade Tree Commission, and would bring cuttings of plants and saplings to Diane's students at River Plaza School while she was principal there.  His favorite song was Edelweiss, which he loved to ask his grandkids to sing to him.  He told them all they had lovely singing voices.

By virtue of his hard work, shrewd nature and a bit of luck, Ray lived a life that was successful and fulfilling.  He and Diane traveled the world, visiting 39 countries and making friends from all over the world.  He loved to tell people that he had only lived in the US for 4 years, astonishing them with his command of the language and customs.  He lived through a pandemic, taking the vaccine because science is important and we all have to do our part – he was of the generation who knew what that meant. He never looked his age, and was active into his 90s.

Thanks for the memories, Ray.  You'll be missed.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Treasure Coast Hospice, who provided exceptional care and comfort to Ray in the last days of his life, and who were so kind to Diane.  Treasure Coast Hospice, 1000 SE Ruhnke Street, Stuart, FL 34994 at www.treasurehealth.org/donate .

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on June 9, 2021 at the Masonic Lodge at 20 SE Osceola Street, Stuart FL 34994 at 6 p.m.  A Celebration of Life will be held in New Jersey later in the summer.  Please contact Linda Weiksnar ( llw@crarybuchanan.com ) or Lisa McCabe ( lmccabe927@hotmail.com ) for details.