Raymond John Ecke

Raymond J. Ecke January 8, 1942-May 6, 2016 Raymond J. Ecke passed away peacefully on Friday, May 6, 2016 in Sarasota, Florida. A loving husband, father and brother, Ray was born in Brooklyn, NY, where he married his high school sweetheart Louise (nee Chiaramonte), recently celebrating their marriage of 52 years. After attending Brooklyn College and serving honorably in the U.S. Army, Ray embarked on a successful career in finance. With a young family in tow, Ray moved to Oakland, NJ, where he lived for nearly four decades, becoming a prominent member of the community, particularly in 1998 when he launched his own successful company Credit Management Resource, based in Oakland, which specialized in business insurance. He remained active in the business he founded even after his retirement and the sale of the company, often offering insights and advice to current owners and maintaining relationships with long-standing business contacts. Thanks to a preternatural ability to connect with people of all stations in life, Ray made friends easily, whether in Oakland and in his current home for the past five years of his life in Sarasota, Florida, where he was on a first-name basis with seemingly everyone who crossed his path. His humor was infectious, loving nothing more than trading bawdy jokes with any and everyone with whom he connected. Moreover, he possessed an incredibly generous spirit, thoughtful nature and keen intelligence, all of which he distributed welcomingly to anyone who asked. A lover of music (everything from opera to classic rock), Democratic politics, golf, the NY Jets, Italian cooking and travel, Ray possessed a strong desire to learn and grow intellectually throughout his life. Whether it was learning a new language, appreciating different cultures, trying new foods, traveling throughout Europe and Mexico (where he insisted on being called ‘Raymundo el Conquistador’), or simply writing down and memorizing new words he encountered in the myriad of books, magazines and newspapers he read regularly so he could use them in conversation, Ray remained young at heart despite declining health in recent years. Ray leaves behind an enormous hole in the hearts of friends and family alike. He is survived by his wife Louise; sons Raymond and Richard; four grand children Meghan, Gareth, Cameron and Sadie, and a sister Mary. He is predeceased by his brother Charles and his parents Charles and Florence. A celebration of his life will be held at Wiegand Brothers Funeral Home, Sarasota, Florida on Tuesday, May 10th at 11 am; and a mass at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Franklin Lakes, NJ on Saturday, May 14 at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Ray are asked to consider a donation to the American Cancer Society.