Raymond A. Reber

Raymond Andrew Reber, of Montrose, NY passed away Tuesday December 20, 2022 with family by his side. He was born April 16, 1942 in Brooklyn, NY to Herbert and Dorothy Schmidt Reber. His family moved to Montrose in 1949. He is survived by his beloved wife of over 59 years Anita (Roe) Reber, son Paul, daughters Laura Bucci and Jill Reber-Atkinson, a sister Elaine Reber-Mason, a nephew Daniel Reber and five grandchildren: Alyssa, Daniel and Nicholas Bucci and James and Myles Atkinson.

Ray graduated Hendrick Hudson High School in 1959. He earned Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Chemical Engineering from NYU, and was a graduate of Northwestern's Kellogg School of Business Senior Executive Training Program. Ray was a member of Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society, was listed in Marques’ Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Science and Engineering and was a Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of New York. He held multiple patents pertaining to reducing air pollution and was a published author.

His career began at M. W. Kellogg (KBR) where he developed a revolutionary process to reduce the cost of producing ammonia for fertilizer. His team won the Kirkpatrick Award in 1967 for most outstanding achievement in chemical engineering. He joined Union Carbide in 1970 where he ran an industrial products business and was manager of technology licensing. His team received a Kirkpatrick Honorable Mention Award. In 1993 he joined Balchem as COO and served as CEO prior to retiring in 1997.

Ray was a pillar of the community.

In 1970 he was elected to the Board of Commissioners of the Montrose Improvement District, a position he was elected to every three years for the remainder of his life.

He was instrumental in establishing a multi-municipal agreement that resulted in building a system that provides Peekskill and the District with a backup water supply. He was a founding trustee of the Northern Westchester Joint Water Works in 1995, served as chairman of the Board of Trustees for three years during the construction of the new Catskill Treatment Plant on Route 6 and served as acting Director from 2003 to 2008.

Ray was a member of the Hudson Valley Chamber of Commerce serving several terms on their Board of Directors. He served as co-chair of the Cortlandt Economic Challenge Committee for 10 years and was a member of the Cortlandt Zoning Board from 2002.

In 1977 Ray was an organizer of the Cortlandt Youth Soccer League and coached several teams. He was a certified soccer referee and officiated at both youth and high school games.

He voluntarily prepared the original specifications for the establishment of Tommy Thurber Park and for two years he volunteered as a crew member on the Half Moon replica ship where he sailed the Hudson River.

Ray was a Freemason belonging to Fraternity-Dunderberg Lodge No. 942 where he served many roles including lodge master and treasurer. He was also a member of Cortlandt Lodge No. 34.

Visitation will be held on Monday December 26, 2022 at Edward F. Carter, 170 Kings Ferry Rd, Montrose from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. A Masonic service will be held during the evening visitation. Ray will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Sunset Cemetery, Montrose.