RIP Mr. GREUTE, u will be missed. Ride Like the Wind....

I love this picture , it captures Ray perfectly , his smile , the twinkle in his eye and his love for life . Ray you were in my life since I was a young teen , I will be 50 soon, you been there for sad times and good time , the birth of my children and the death of my plarents, I will forever remember you with love , thank you for holding on to that tie I made you in 1977 , the last we spoke you told me you still had it all these years , you touched my life and my heartb, there will always be a special place for you , rest well my dear friend

R.I.P.

Mr. Greuter, back in 1972 as an 8th grader I will never forget your clogs, bell bottoms and the grooviest music I had ever heard. Your class was always a pleasure and I just know your up in heaven making more beautiful music. Thank you for being the coolest teacher I ever had. Rest in peace.

Sometimes you only have to know someone for a short time to have them impact your life forever! Thank you for the friendship and protection that you and Phyllis provided me when I needed it most. Rest in peace neighbor.

Carol , I agree, Ray had so many that loves him and would want to say good bye but unable to get up north ( especially me ) Ray was part of point and point was part of Ray , I will say my good byes while listening to super tramp or Elton John , the world is a bit darker without Rays light on earth

Words will never express my grief, Ray was my Friend and Mentor as well as My Piano and Voice Teacher from the summer I left 5th Grade to past High School. He stood there like someone watching a loved one Bungee jump for the first time as I went to sing for my Audition for Westminster. He was tough as Nails when I "forgot" to practice. But in life, he was always "there", When ever I thought I needed a little guidence, Ray would be in the music room, I can't remember how many discussions we had over the years. I am glad I spoke with him just a few months ago. Its really hard to think he's gone now. God Speed My friend and Mentor- I could not be where I am in this thing called life if not for you!
Drew

Overwhelming sadness

Sad. Very sad that the person who took charge of all the arrangements made it about themselves and not about Ray. No obituary, so unless you researched you wouldn't know arrangements. Not even the school,where he devoted 38 years of his life was called with details of arrangements. His friends and everyone who loved completely left out. You deserved a memorial Ray, right here in point pleasant where everyone you knew and loved you could say goodbye. For all who also were left out but need to pay respects to such a dear man.... Thursday jan.17 1-3/6-8 at August Schmidt funeral home in Elizabeth?? Why, only one person knows. Funeral Friday at 10:30.

Interesting insight unemployed. There is a plan by the teachers at Memorial School to collect funds to give a music scholarship in his name. The juniors and seniors were his last classes at Memorial Middle School and we will make sure he is properly memorialized. He was very loved and dearly missed. The shock is unbelievable, The grief is unbearable, the love everyone had for Ray, undeniable. Anyone interested in being a part of the music scholarship can contact me at the Middle School.

I've only had the pleasure for knowing Ray for only 3yrs & what a wonderful human being he was. We always had a good laugh together & good conversations. I will ALWAYS think of him when I play the Christmas cd he gave me of his piano instrumentals. I know your up there making some kind of funny comment to someone down here & keeping them on their toes up there. And btw, is that the wine I gave you??? Hope you at least had the chance to enjoy it. Will miss you---- the world will not be as musical without you in it. Glad to have known you for the short time I did. Play on my friend....... xoxo's

Unemployed , I feel your frustration over the fact that it is in Elizabeth , it turns out if the weather hold my husband andI are going to go , I would not feel right if I did not say good bye to a man that has been part of my life for so long , perhaps with the school a memorial celebration ( that is what Ray would want ) could be arranged for him ? I would be happy to do anything I can to make it happen and help
If you would like email me greatwht@aol.com , I adored as I called him Greuter , there are many people that would love to be able to be say good bye and share stories about him , there are so many !
Take care
Wendy

For anyone interested , I emailed the school to see if a celebration of Ray life can be done by the student in the band. , I thought since he started in 1970 from each decade songs played that he loved and a student or 2 say a few words and share memories about Ray in between( from that decade ) the decades of songs , I am waiting to hear back from Memorial school , Ray was part of that school for 38 years I hope they will allow something for him to celebrate a incredible person and a friend to many of us , my email is in above post , feel free to email me I will update on this as soon as I know , my heart is broken over his lose and I want to pay tribute to a man that has done so much for so many

Raymond,
"If you get there before I do, Don't give up on me,
I'll meet you when my chores are thru, I don't know how long I'll be,
But, I'm not gonna let you down, Darling wait and see,
So, between now and then, Till I see you again,
I'll be loving you......Love, Me"

Harry Peltz
Met Ray in 1970 & became quick friends and closer during the following years. Truly a loss for all. A vibrant caring quick witted stand-up joker. Ray will always be with me & I'll miss him dearly. Love you my friend.

Ray was my dad's cousin.. we too are baffled why arrangments would be held so far away and not where he had lived and worked.. we just found out about arrangements from reading this article and are unable to attend due to unfortunate circumstances.. please let us know if a tribute will be held at the school.. Ray was a wonderful man, I have so many fond memories... we now have an angel watching over us.. rip..

If he was originally up that way. It is possible that his funeral was paid by someone in his family. A prepaid funeral in advance by his parents. Some people do this to get rid of money that at one time was tax free.

I drove nearly two hours to attend his services. He would have done the same for any of us I bet! The services this afternoon were very nice. The people, including the director were very kind. I think he would have appreciated it. So sorry for everyone's loss.

As I went to say good bye to you Ray tonight I walked in an heard your talented piano playing your beloved Christmas music , I knew right away it was you playing , your dear friend promised to send me your CD, I will cherish it as I did our friendship , saying good bye to such a talented , funny , kind , compassionate man it was very hard for me,, you were part of my life for over 35 years and I love you dearly , I have your card you used to give out for playing piano and a school picture from memorial school , mostly I have memories of you I will have with me forever , rest well my friend " kisses " Wendy

As was the case with 95% of all the people who would have gone to a local wake, I was unable to attend. ( in fact another town icon had wake tonight as well, RIP Darren) I did hear, however from those who were there, that when his friends from school arrived, the one who took control of arrangements (not family by the way to answer post from ff) disappeared into a back room the entire time they were there. Very telling, I think. They couldn't even look his absolute closest friends in the eye, and never came out. I hope his family who allowed her to take control noticed this, too. The family has been duped. I just want everyone to know. But, this is about you, Ray. Love you forevah! RIP music man. I'll always cherish our friendship and more.
RIP Raymond Greuter

His friend Teddy was there tonight talking to me , very pleasant guy, I was gla he did come over to talk to me , there was not many people there when I arrived we made it by 7:45 it ended at 8 , the few that were there I did not know, the person that did the arrangement as you said was not visible nor introduced themselves or said anything to anyone but about 3 people I assume we're her family . As much as the drive was long , I did it for Ray, as wrong as it may be it is something we have to accept as heart breaking as it is , it was a closed casket with Ray beautiful piano playing filling the room , I was able to have one of his pianist cards that were in a box by the guest book and a wallet size picture from Memorial school of years past , I hope to get his CD of Christmas music . I know there would be many more people there to say good bye to Ray if hie was in the town he loved , it was a bad week for Point Pleasant , we lost 2 great men Raymond Greuter and Darren Arms , may the both rest in peace

Perhaps, unemployed, the reason this person had trouble was because they read these comments on this page! A place that is supposed to be full of love and honor for a man who has just passed. He obviously cared a lot for this person to leave such a responsibility on them. I think it's a shame when a loss makes people say hurtful things to one another. When people google his name now do you want them to see a pile of complaints or pages filled with great stories and appreciation for Raymond? Something to think about maybe?

Actually, I don't think there were that many questioning comments in yesterday's Patch to make anyone run and hide. If what these posters are saying is true, it is a bit strange.

I am asking if out if respect for Ray all unneccessary comments be deleted. The person who made the arrangements lost someone very special too and perhaps was grieving so badly at the wake that she needed to take some time to catch her breath. Ray did indeed have pre arrangements as his parents are buried up north as well. The person who made the arrangements commuted as well from Brick. Full intentions where to have a memorial service in the area for everyone who loved him. I'll be deleting this post afterwards out of respect for Ray. Please do the same. He wouldnt have wanted this to go on. Rest in Peace

For those who would like to do something Ray would have loved..... The teachers of Memorial Middle School will be gathering at the Ark in point pleasant beach on Monday January 28th beginning at about 3:30. We will be sharing stories, toasting, but most importantly we will be raising funds for a memorial music scholarship in Ray's name. The juniors and seniors this year were Rays last students and we would like to memorialize him in this way. Please contact me if you would like to contribute. For those of you who are former staff, a private memorial will be held in the band room on Monday at 2:30. Please contact Lisa Miller at the school lmiller@pointpleasant.k12.nj.us if you would like to attend ( sorry, only retired faculty, not general public)