Raymond “Rocky” Meyer, a longtime resident of Monticello, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 20. He was being cared for by family members and staff during a brief stay at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

Ray will be lovingly remembered by his daughter, Barbara Meyer; son, Daniel Meyer and wife Susan Mack; daughter-in-law Sheryl Meyer; grandchildren Gabrielle, Simon, and Samara; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Gertrude Meyer; son, Steven “Pudgy” Meyer; brother, Michael Meyer; and sisters, Mary Alexander and Dora Friedman.

Ray was born and raised in the tenements of New York City’s Lower East Side, the second son of Yehuda and Lesheva Meyer, Sephardic Jews who emigrated from Turkey. He grew up speaking Ladino and recalled learning to read English from the subtitles of silent movies. As a teenager, he spent time at the University Settlement House, a youth organization serving the diasporic melting pot of the Lower East Side. An all-around standout athlete, Ray cherished memories of playing punchball, stickball, and handball.

Drafted into the U.S. Army at 19 during World War II, Ray saw combat in the Battle of Anzio, in Italy. He survived a nearly fatal head wound and other injuries and was awarded a Purple Heart with a Single Oak Leaf Cluster. After a long recovery, he attended college on the GI Bill, earned his degree, and in 1951 began a government career and married his beloved sweetheart, Gertie Gold. They started a family and after spending many wonderful summers in the Catskills, they moved to Monticello, New York, in 1965.

Following Gertie’s heartbreaking passing in 1973 after 21 years of marriage, Ray retired early and devoted himself to caring for his children. He started gardening and earned the reputation for growing the best vegetables in Monticello. After 35 years, however, the local woodchucks and deer finally won the battle, devouring his crops faster than he could grow them.

Ray was an avid reader, excellent storyteller, crossword solver, and card and chess player. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of classic Hollywood films, big-band jazz, and swing music, and a particular passion for World War I aviation. On his 70th birthday, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by flying in an open-cockpit biplane—and had the time of his life.

Most of all, Ray cherished family and friends. He was “Mr. Ray” to neighborhood kids and “Uncle Rocky” to his nieces and nephews. He earned their respect and love while setting a standard for living with integrity, dignity, humor, and independence. He loved to laugh, play jokes, and bestow nicknames on people. He often described things in quirky ways that left listeners amused and sometimes completely baffled. Ray lived life his way, with no compromises.

Ray remained remarkably active throughout his life, playing tennis into his 80s and lifting weights, shoveling snow, and driving until age 101. At 102, he moved to San Francisco to live with his son Danny and family. He especially enjoyed sitting on the deck, watching birds, squirrels, and planes, while keeping an eye on Sutro Tower as it appeared and disappeared in the fog.

At nearly 103, Ray left us too soon.

Burial will be at Landfield Avenue Cemetery, Thompsonville Road, Friday, October 9 at 11:30 am.

Donations can be made to the University Settlement House, 184 Eldridge Street, New York, NY 10002 in memory of Raymond Meyer:  universitysettlement.org/donate-today.

Arrangements are honorably entrusted to the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home - 845-794-7474 or josephngarlickfuneralhome.com.